National links: Concrete is used widely, but it harms the environment. What should cities do?

Concrete is the most destructive material on earth, and also the most-used substance after water. A wealth guru wants to build a car-free city outside of Denver modeled after bicycle-friendly Dutch cities. Seattle is getting a new waterfront, complete with an enormous shark tank.

Earth's most destructive material: Concrete is the second-most used substance on Earth after water. The cement industry would be the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world if it were a county, just behind China and the US. Concrete comprises almost 10% of all industrial water use, and 75% of consumption occurs in water-stressed regions. Concrete has universally become synonymous with development, but its environmental impacts call for rethinking how we use and reuse concrete. (Jonathan Watts | The Guardian)

A car-free, bike-friendly city in Colorado: Wealth Guru Pete Adeney (aka “Mr. Money Mustache”) has partnered with a Dutch urban design consultancy to design a car-free, bike-friendly city outside Denver. The one-square-mile plot would be home to 50,000 people. Adeney wants to buy land outside an existing city to avoid any “antique car-based building/zoning rules.” The development would be modeled after Dutch cities, featuring density and short distances, as well as a skate park, BMX track, and dark-sky compliant lighting. (Carlton Reid | Forbes)

Seattle's bold new waterfront: The Alaskan Way Viaduct has been demolished and new projects are coming to Seattle's 26-block-long waterfront, including an expansion of Seattle Aquarium with a transparent 350,000-gallon shark tank over the central plaza, a reconstructed ferry terminal, and an actual beach. Spanning the whole length will be a protected bike lane, a landscaped pedestrian promenade, and public spaces for year-round events. These projects enthuse locals who will be reconnected with the waterfront for the first time in 65 years. (Erica C. Barnett | Seattle Magazine)

The Dutch pay people to bike to work: In the Netherlands, 25% of trips are made via bicycle, a higher proportion than any other country. But the Dutch still want to do better. The government is incentivizing bicycle commuting by allowing workers to claim about $0.22 for every kilometer they pedal. Biking 10 kilometers a day during a normal work week can yield $500 a year, and the benefit is tax-free. The Dutch government has also committed $390M to the nation's bike infrastructure so that bicycling is attractive, comfortable, and accessible. (Adam Forrest | Huffington Post)

De Blasio finally endorses congestion pricing: New York City's mayor has finally joined Governor Andrew Cuomo in the push for congestion pricing. Cuomo and de Blasio released a 10-point plan, which includes implementing the system by 2020. This comes as Cuomo and the state government reform the Metropolitan Transit Authority to address the city's transit crisis, particularly its crumbling subway system. Cuomo and de Blasio also aim to increase MTA funding with a tax on legal marijuana, a new internet sales tax, and increased fare enforcement. (David Meyer | Streetsblog NYC)

Quote of the Week

“Ultimately, the largest population of opportunity is women. If we build a city that supports women, it will then attract women to our workforce, it will help retain women in our workforce, and it will help grow women into our workforce. That’s an economic advantage.”

Tami Door of the Downtown Denver Partnership in 5280 Magazine discussing Denver's potential when it designs for women.

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Jonny Simkin, co-founder and CEO of Swiftly discussing using data for transit operations and planning.