Car-Free

Study: AI Can Help Build Support for Car-Free, Car-Lite Infrastructure
Study participants were more likely to support sustainable transportation projects when shown AI images of what the completed real-life infrastructure would look like, suggesting generative AI could be a useful tool for planners.

Book Review: Shifting Focus from Car-Free to Car-Lite Cities
Instead of aiming to make cities better for bikes, a new book argues we should be making cities better with bikes using a car-lite, not a car-free approach.

Car-Free Arizona Suburb Gains Residents
The project, dubbed Culdesac, offers EV rentals, free light rail passes, and other perks instead of private parking.

Arizona’s ‘Car-Free’ Community Takes Shape
Culdesac Tempe has been welcoming residents since last year.

Video: A ‘European-Style’ Street in Philadelphia
With its narrow lanes and mature trees, Philadelphia’s Quince Street illustrates what’s possible.

Rick Steves on Walkability Lessons From Europe
Many of Europe’s pedestrian-friendly, transit-rich cities weren’t always that way.

Future of Minneapolis Open Streets in Question
The city denied a request for funding and ended its contract with the organizing nonprofit, placing future events in jeopardy.

Car-Free Montreal Street Hailed as Success
A summer pedestrianization project is widely popular with residents and local businesses.

Arizona ‘Car-Free’ Neighborhood Nears Opening
Culdesac Tempe bans personal cars in exchange for access to scooters, bike facilities, and free transit. Is that enough to reduce car ownership in auto-centric Arizona?
!["I [heart] Philadelphia" sign in front of fountain with city hall building in background](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_514479381_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg.webp?itok=3o9OsQs9)
Philadelphia’s City Center Rates Highly for Transit, Walkability
While not all parts of the city are equally accessible, its central district boasts one of the nation’s densest transit networks and high ridership rates.

Essay: How Poor Pedestrian Planning Harms Families
A lack of safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure can drive young families away from places that don’t accommodate car-free residents.

Car-Oriented Cities See Rise in Car-Free Developments
No longer tied to minimum parking requirements, housing developers are starting to shift to more walkable, transit-oriented projects.

There is Nothing Illiberal About Walkability
Despite recent claims to the contrary, the concept of the 15-minute city promotes freedom of mobility and universal access to a city’s resources and amenities.

Californians Could Get a Tax Credit for Not Owning Cars
The bill’s sponsors say it’s only fair to extend tax relief to Californians who don’t own cars as the state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease driving.

What Is Car-Centric Planning?
'Car-centric planning' refers to urban planning that privileges the private automobile as a primary transportation mode, often to the exclusion of people who walk, bike, or use public transit.

'15-Minute City' To Be Built in Utah
A community that focuses on reducing the need for car ownership and providing effective multimodal transportation and diverse land uses will be built from scratch on the site of the decommissioned Utah State Prison.

Norwegian City Plans for Zero-Emissions Neighborhood
As it winds down port operations in the area, Bergen plans to transform its Dokken district from a busy shipping hub to a car-free, 'regenerative' zone.

The Car-Free Revolution Continues in Paris
The city continues to reclaim space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Nation's First 'Zero-Driving Community' Takes Shape in Tempe
Slated to open in 2022, Culdesac Tempe contractually forbids personal vehicles from parking within a quarter-mile radius of the project site.

How to Abolish Parking Minimums: Lessons from the Twin Cities
Cities around the country are eliminating parking minimums in an effort to reduce the costs of housing construction and encourage car-free living.
Pagination
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.