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ABC News: German Town Does Away With Traffic Lights
here's how it works:
"With street lights and traffic signs gone, there is only one iron rule in place – you give way to the right, whether it's a car, bike or a pedestrian and the open square does not only look good, it causes motorists to automatically go slow, which means people can make eye contact with each other in order to negotiate the right of way,"
Interesting solution to a worldwide problem. Now, if only the US were nearly as progressive as Europe with regards to urban issues and initiatives, things may improve here as well. here's how it works: ... more -
Light fantastic: pedestrians to generate power - Times Online
via Core77 Design Blog
"Underfloor generators, powered by “heel strike” and designed by British engineers, may soon be installed in supermarkets and railway stations.
The technology could use the footsteps of pedestrians to power thousands of lightbulbs at shopping centres. It works by using the pressure of feet on the floor to compress pads underneath, driving fluid through mini-turbines that then generate electricity, which is stored in a battery.....
In addition to floors, the technology could also be installed beneath railway lines and on road bridges to exploit the energy of passing trains and vehicles.
The plans for heel-strike generation follow successful trials last year at a bridge in the Midlands where generators converted energy from trains passing above into electricity powering a flood detector."
Talk about self-sufficiency.... via Core77 Design Blog ... more -
Envisioning a world of $200-a-barrel oil
"Throughout our history, we have grown on the assumption that energy costs would be low," said Michael Woo, a former Los Angeles city councilman and a current member of the city Planning Commission. "Now that those assumptions are shifting, it changes assumptions about housing, cars and how cities grow."
Push prices up fast enough, he said, and "it would be the urban-planning equivalent of an earthquake."
So sure, it will not be good in the short-term but such expensive oil could lead to the end of suburban sprawl! Yes, it's a little far off but still, we can hope. "Throughout our history, we have grown on the assumption that energy costs would be low," said Michael Woo, a former Los Ang... more -
Suburbs the next slums?
With rising energy prices and increasing emphasis on walkable urbanism, the suburbs are losing popularity. In fact, some speculate that the suburbs will be the future slums, a transformation that is already beginning with rising crime in some of the neighborhoods hit hardest by the subprime mess. With rising energy prices and increasing emphasis on walkable urbanism, the suburbs are losing popularity. In fact, some speculate th... more
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The rise and fall of the shopping mall
The shopping mall was invented in order to evoke a European city feel, that downtown busy feel. Soon however it became viewed as a staple of American surburbia. Are Americans still going to the mall? The shopping mall was invented in order to evoke a European city feel, that downtown busy feel. Soon however it became viewed as a sta... more
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Urbanism
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Urbanism
