Bel Geddes listed neither Le Corbusier nor Frank Lloyd Wright. In fact, their influence on the planning and traffic engineering of American sprawl was relatively small compared to the influence of automakers, highway engineers, the real-estate industry, and allies in business and government.

Robert stern wrote: "The sources of [Futurama] were many, but principally the work of ... Le Corbusier and the American Frank Lloyd Wright..." With respect to Prof Stern, that's incorrect. The designer of Futurama, Norman Bel Geddes, listed his many sources in his book Magic Motorways (1941).

I appreciate the info about your upcoming manuscript and the writing process. It's bonus good news as far as I'm concerned. Not only do I get to read a third book in the Ana and Din series, you were able to scrap an unsatisfactory draft and work on a replacement that you're much happier with.

Congratulations, happy anniversary, and wishing for many more on the way!

They include:
- Windows, daylighting, and natural cross-ventilation on 2-3 sides of each dwelling, rather than the typical 1 side only
- Less floor space for corridors; more for family-size dwellings
- More space and budget for amenities like courtyards, day care, incubator retail, etc. 2/2

It's a sensible -- even inspiring -- vision for a bus and rail system that's more safe, reliable, and efficient. In addition, major funding decisions are greatly aided by a clear, feasible plan.

The building masses taper down to 3 stories in the back so they don't overwhelm the next-door houses. That's a good idea.

I like the pedestrian-oriented frontage. It matches the local context of the adjacent blocks along Connecticut better than the other designs.

I'm not involved with the design competition. I felt that it was worth publicizing on BlueSky. Please feel free to contact the organizers if you want to: www.cnudc.org/resources-c1...

CNU's Chapters are created and led by local members rather than the national organization. So the scope of each Chapter is decided by the Chapter itself (see FAQ). Also, New York has its own chapter: bsky.app/profile/cnu....

Background: Legislators are currently working to legalize single-stair buildings up to six stories in Maryland and Baltimore. Therefore, the competition is intended to "introduce ... the public to the efficiency and beauty of single-stair design."

Here's the announcement flyer:

During a period of testing, MBTA buses spent 21 percent less time waiting at red lights. The agency says that up to half of all transit delays are caused by waits at red lights. Furthermore, signal-timing changes at two intersections reduced overall congestion by more than 50 percent.

Reducing traffic volumes makes so many pro-urban, pro-walking, pro-biking, and transit-supporting designs possible. Love to see it happen.

Such interventions carry the echoes of DIY tactical urbanism. Under Sterling's formulation, they are tentatively re-imagined as public-art installations.

An excerpt from Sterling's essay. @bruces.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy

The Tokyo metropolitan area's high level of street-network connectivity has had salutary effects. It helped support high rates of walking, cycling, and transit use, as well as a relatively energy-efficient and low-emission transportation sector. 6/6

Thus, Tokyo's well-connected street networks resulted from both top-down planning and development policies, and bottom-up subdivision and construction choices. Both trends tended to bolster and extend the existing patterns of small blocks, well-connected streets, and narrow residential streets. 5/6

Why were recent street networks so well connected? Suburban development was lightly regulated yet accessible to convenient citywide transit. Also, the pattern of narrow, well-connected local streets had "deep structural and cultural roots" that continued to find expression in new neighborhoods. 4/6