#42: Bruges Maps for Bikes, NYC Invests in Streets, and Toronto Youth Rethink Density

Welcome to the 42nd 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:

• A cycling association in Bruges, Belgium, successfully lobbied for a city-wide cycling zone by using OpenStreetMap tools to measure and visualize street widths.

• NYC is sprucing up its streets and stops: $40 million to add benches to bus stops, plus a bill opening thousands of new vending licenses.

• A Calgary family reflects on two years of using an electric cargo bike as a “very cheap minivan”, highlighting the joy, practicality and community-building benefits.

• A new study on adolescents in high-rise neighborhoods in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo found they often struggle with isolation and “anti-social” designs. The research highlights that healthy density must prioritize human connection and that cities should listen to youth voices.

• NYC’s 24-hour economy generates $35 billion and 300,000 jobs. With 80 cities introducing night mayors, urban planning must rethink daytime-focused strategies to unlock the nighttime economy.

Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:

• MITx is offering a free online course, Introduction to Pedestrian Mobility in Cities, that equips learners with the tools to analyze, plan, and advocate for pedestrian-friendly environments. Starting November 4.

• A new PBS documentary, “From Rails to Trails,” chronicles the grassroots movement to convert abandoned railway lines into affordable hiking and biking trails across the U.S. The film shows how these projects connect communities, offer alternatives to car infrastructure and complicate the typical NIMBY-YIMBY narrative.

• A Next City podcast episode explores how arts leaders in Minnesota, Toronto and Oakland are pioneering alternative models to sustain artists and preserve cultural spaces.

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

...