#41: Car-dependent Halloween, Bangkok's Moto-taxis, and Bolivia's Resilient Cities

Welcome to the 41st issue of Urbanism Now, our weekly newsletter curated with brief and insightful urban ideas from around the world to inspire action where you (c)are.

This newsletter is curated by Maria Paula Moreno Vivas and Ray Berger. Learn more on our About page.

Thank you for your interest and support. If you find this newsletter useful, please forward it to a friend!

Let’s get started:

• Social media is fueling the decline of local trick-or-treating by promoting “destination neighborhoods,” which consolidates the activity into a few, often affluent, areas and turns a walkable community tradition into a car-dependent event.

• Bangkok’s formalized moto-taxi system uses expensive, tradable jackets to limit driver supply, creating high barriers to entry and a stark divide with the massive, informal app-based gig economy. This regulated system, once a political win, has struggled to adapt and compete with the onslaught of ride-hailing apps.

• Helvetas is building more resilient cities in Bolivia by strengthening urban planning capacity, promoting citizen participation through initiatives like innovation labs, and implementing digital tools. The model, now applied in 13 cities, uses nature-based solutions and circular economy principles to address climate change and social inequality.

• A new academic article explores why 259 U.S. transit agencies adopted fare-free public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that knowledge-sharing networks, the need for physical distancing, and providing financial relief to essential workers were key drivers.

Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:

• A new e-course, “Digital Tools for Participatory Planning,” explores how digital innovation can make cities safer, more inclusive, and sustainable. The self-paced course is available in English and Spanish.

• Forrest City, a $100 billion urban development in Malaysia, has become a ghost town with only 9,000 of its planned one million residents.

Jobs:

• UN-Habitat is seeking an intern in Nairobi, Kenya, to support its Global Solutions Division with internal coordination, strategic engagement and contributions to intergovernmental processes for six months.

• NYC Housing Preservation and Development is looking for a Director ($98,159 - $115,000) and Deputy Director ($87,743 - $100,904) for Fair Housing Policy & Investments to advance Where We Live 2025 commitments and Fair Housing Framework requirements. Apply by November 13.

• Oslo Metropolitan University is hiring an associate professor in digital urban planning to teach courses in urban analytics, data visualization, and smart cities. $58k - $70k salary. Apply by December 1.

• The College of Wooster is

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