profile

urbaneer

Friday Five: Skateparks, Robots, and Comebacks

Published over 1 year ago • 2 min read

Friday Five: Skateparks, Robots, and Comebacks

Happy Friday! Here's what we're reading this week:

What We're Reading This Week:

Skateparks as City-Building: How Designers Are Bringing Skate Culture to New Frontiers

From Baghdad to Bangalore, a new wave of designers is building skateparks in cities that have never had them before. These projects go beyond recreation—they create inclusive public spaces, empower youth, and help reshape urban environments. By working with local communities, designers are integrating skateparks into city planning, proving that skateboarding can be a tool for social change and placemaking. As interest in skate culture grows globally, these spaces are fostering creativity, connection, and economic development in unexpected places.

Robot Couriers Expand in Miami’s Food Delivery Scene

Serve Robotics is rolling out more of its autonomous delivery robots in Miami, bringing AI-powered couriers to sidewalks as demand for contactless delivery grows. The bots, which use sensors and machine learning to navigate city streets, aim to make short-distance food deliveries more efficient while reducing traffic congestion. While the technology promises convenience, it also raises questions about pedestrian space and labor impacts.

California High-Speed Rail Project Faces Federal Funding Review

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general has launched an audit into how California is spending billions in federal funding on its long-delayed high-speed rail project. The review will examine whether the state is properly managing costs, timelines, and federal grants as the project faces mounting criticism over delays and ballooning expenses. Supporters argue that high-speed rail is essential for California’s future, but skeptics question whether the state can deliver on its promises.

Cambridge Ends Single-Family Zoning in Major Win for Housing and Urbanism

Cambridge, MA, has eliminated single-family zoning, paving the way for more multi-unit housing in one of the nation’s most expensive markets. The move is a victory for urbanists and housing advocates who argue that restrictive zoning fuels affordability crises and limits walkable, transit-friendly development. Supporters say the reform will create more diverse housing options and help ease pressure on Greater Boston’s tight rental market.

Portland’s Urban Revival: Signs of a Comeback for the Once-Model City

After years of population decline and economic struggles, Portland is showing signs of a rebound. Downtown foot traffic is up, businesses are reopening, and new investments are flowing into housing and public spaces. City leaders are betting on zoning reforms, public safety efforts, and transit improvements to sustain the recovery. While challenges remain, urban experts say Portland’s ability to adapt could make it a model once again for livability and smart growth.

More from Urbaneer:

​Urbaneer Conference: Interested in learning more about the Urbaneer conference? Submit your email here and you'll be added to our waiting list to receive information about dates, locations, ticket pricing, speakers, and more!
​
​Learn Urbanism OS: I created a free dashboard of urbanism content across a variety of mediums: Twitter/X accounts, books, podcasts, YouTube channels, and more. While I'm sure there are some folks I've managed to leave out, it is a great starting place to learn the "who's who" of urbanism to immerse yourself in the conversation. Click here to access Learn Urbanism OS!


​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

urbaneer

written by Michael Natelli

Learn something new every week about the trends shaping cities and the built environment. Join 700+ city nerds looking to stay in the know about planning, transportation, housing, urban innovation, and more.

Read more from urbaneer

Friday Five: Speed Regulators, Air Taxis, and YIGBY Happy Friday! Here's what we're reading this week: What We're Reading This Week: Virginia Becomes First State to Mandate Speed Limiters for Reckless Drivers Virginia has passed a first-in-the-nation law allowing judges to require speed-limiting devices for drivers caught going over 100 mph. The intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology caps how fast a car can go using GPS and mapping data. Supporters say it’s a smart, scalable tool to...

over 1 year ago • 2 min read

Friday Five: Abundance, Innovation, and Map Designs Happy Friday! Here's what we're reading this week: What We're Reading This Week: What the “Abundance” Movement Means for Transportation A growing faction of technologists and policy influencers is rallying around “abundance” as a new vision for infrastructure—one that emphasizes more of everything: more housing, more transit options, more highways, more airports. This abundance mindset has entered urban policy debates, especially around...

over 1 year ago • 2 min read

Friday Five: Trains, Cameras, and Traffic Happy Friday! Here's what we're reading this week: What We're Reading This Week: Where Hydrogen and Battery-Powered Trains are Coming to US Commuter Rail A growing wave of battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trains could reshape American rail travel. Several U.S. transit agencies are testing these low-emission alternatives to diesel locomotives, aiming to cut carbon footprints and operating costs. California and the Northeast are leading the...

over 1 year ago • 2 min read