National links: The complicated intersection of protests and transit safety

Transit agencies have a lot to consider when choosing to shut down during protests. The COVID-19 pandemic shows how work expectations align with where people live. This is a moment of reckoning for city planners.

Should transit shut down during protests? Over the past weekend, as protests increased, many transit agencies chose to shut down service fearing safety of their drivers, passengers, and equipment. The decision left many people stranded, angering riders and advocates alike. Now, agencies and planners must weigh a myriad of factors in creating contingency plans for service during public demonstrations. (Jarrett Walker | Human Transit)

A soul crushing suburban commute: Many people with office jobs have worked from home in the past few months. Those living in suburban areas have shed their often time-sucking commutes to their desks in the city. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how work expectations can align with how and where people live, in addition to preventing some of the negative impacts that driving has on the environment. (Elie Mystal | The Nation)

A moment of reckoning for planners and urbanists: In this unique moment of public health crisis and social justice reform, planners must consider the role they have played in designing spaces that perpetuate institutional racism. From public streets and parks to private mixed-use developments, they are encouraged now more than ever to consider equity in all planning decisions. (James Brasuell | Planetizen)

Closed roads show the true beauty of parks: As coronavirus lockdowns have closed some roads near parks, design in its truest form is revealing itself. Spaces like Tower Grove Park in St. Louis have become more quaint as the surrounding streets have become less distracting by car traffic. As the lockdowns ease, people are reconsidering superfluous roads and we might maintain less traffic congestion near parks. (Chris Naffziger | St. Louis Magazine)

Our infrastructure isn’t up to par with current climate conditions: Our drain pipes, reservoirs, power lines, and sewage systems were designed based on past climate data. As such, they are likely to falter as present day natural disasters persist. Planners and designers are now faced with the challenge of updating infrastructure under unpredictable climate changes. (Shayla Love | Vice)

Quote of the Week

“One of the dangers of this moment for white counterparts in placemaking is to be invigorated to ‘do something’ instead of just picking up the best practices, voices and research of women/black ppl/white allies from the last 5+ years and put that work to work. It is important that we amplify, fund and implement the work of people and organizations that have already spoken loudly on the intersection of place and race. With that in mind I’ve decided to interrupt your lunchtime to do some amplifying…”

Keith Benjamin, Charleston South Carolina’s Director of Transportation and Traffic on Twitter discussing the need to amplify work that’s already going on.

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Germaine Haleguoa, University of Kansas Associate Professor of Media and Film, to talk about her book The Digital City. I highly highly recommend this one.