another hundred years hence

here we go

2009-06-01T13:30:00.002-04:00

This from the Manila Times: BRT in the Philippines to cost Php55B for 426 kilometers. (That seems a little pricey to me but at least the idea has found legs.)Moreso, pilot routes are in the works. I hope they do it right.The

chicago, a hundred years since

2009-04-20T13:51:00.003-04:00

So, if you didn't know it yet, Daniel Burnham created a plan for Manila before he even worked on Chicago, DC or San Francisco. Of course, we decided not to follow through with it.Urbanophile lists down why the Burnham plan for Chicago

"Our cities are linked and they are learning"

2009-04-08T10:52:00.001-04:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation: The Demon-Haunted WorldView more documents from Matt Jones.

the street of the future is a livable street

2009-04-07T14:19:00.005-04:00

This interactive graphic courtesy of GOOD Magazine."It’s easy to forget that our streets are alterable. They weren’t set down by God on the eighth day; they were designed by human beings. Unfortunately, throughout the 20th century, most

want to reinvent metro manila?

2009-03-06T11:47:00.004-05:00

DIYcity: How do you want to reinvent your city?Twitter bots, aggregators, social software, mobile apps - we use these things more and more in our daily routines to make our lives better. But can we also use them to remake our cities

business improvement districts

2009-02-23T10:29:00.002-05:00

I've advocated for the use of BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) in Metro Manila. Someone just has to write the enabling law.What's a BID? (Caveat -that links to a Manhattan Institute report on BIDs, and MI is decidedly on right of

bbc's bicycle diaries

2009-02-03T11:09:00.002-05:00

Great podcast series on bicycles (and cities) from the BBC:This three - part series illustrates how the bicycle is used today and what impact it has on people's lives. With more than a billion models worldwide, the bicycle has found a place in every society. Since its invention in 1817 people have redesigned and used the bike for hundreds of different purposes.From sporting events and policing

RF and Asian Cities

2009-02-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

Via MCONET:Foundation to help Asian cities endure global warming The Rockefeller Foundation President recently came to Thailand on many occasions, one of which concerned the 70-billion US dollar “Asian Cities Climate Change

decongesting manila

2009-01-15T16:41:00.004-05:00

This was Econmist Benjie Diokno's latest column in BusinessWorld.He reports back from the findings of WDR2009 and argues that "Decongesting Manila by creating new government centers in other cities is "ill-advised and a waste of public

mag-aral ka, anak

2009-01-09T14:06:00.001-05:00

from CEOsforCitiesSo, go get your college degree.But make sure to walk through a park to give your brain a break.

National Land Use Committee

2009-01-07T14:28:00.002-05:00

This came out in BusinessWorld the week before Christmas:President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has included the National Land Use Committee (NLUC) into the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board to address the land-use

inspired by Manila

2009-01-04T09:16:00.007-05:00

Rendering by Rafael Smith, via NYTAbove, the Uber Shelter - inspired by Manila.Dismantled, the Über Shelter looks like a large gray gurney. But this compact pile of aluminum unfolds into a two-story home, complete with lights, stove, porch and a small refrigerator. Rafael Smith, a senior in the industrial design program at Purdue University, designed the Über Shelter for his undergraduate thesis

by the people, for the people

2008-12-29T15:43:00.004-05:00

Success in upgrading slums led by the people who live there:The Baan Mankong Community Upgrading Program was launched by the Thai government in January 2003, as part of its efforts to address the housing problems of the country’s poorest

The world’s 10 best commutes

2008-12-29T10:50:00.005-05:00

photo by APForbes has listed the 10 best cities for commuters (via MSNBC)Of course Metro Manila is not on the list - but it would be good to look to these cities for inspiration. And, hey, Mumbai, Chennai and Dakkar are on the list. There's hope because "dense cities perform particularly well ."Quoteworthy:The speed of transit not only benefits commuters; it contributes to a city's economic

on my reading list

2008-12-03T14:50:00.004-05:00

Sorry folks. New job, new city and new baby (Luna Emilia -born Oct. 13, 2008) have been very demanding so have not had time to post or to answer comments.In lieu of more nuanced thinking, I throw at you books and events I have been

where I've beenwhere I'm going

2008-10-06T23:04:00.004-04:00

So tell me, are we way past the point in the life-cycle of blogs where the reader, not having seen a new post in weeks, has decided it's not worth visiting the blog anymore? I hope not. Then again, you're reading this so maybe I have

car free streets

2008-09-19T23:28:00.002-04:00

Yes, I know. I've been gone for too long.Hold on. I've got some major news and updates coming up but meanwhile, be inspired by New York and San Francisco's own takes on car free days on major streets.Tell me why we can't do this in our

a little bit better

2008-07-07T16:42:00.004-04:00

Jan Gehl, one of the most effective urban planners and urban theorists alive, has this advice about dealing with the seemingly overwhelming challenge of changing our cities:Take it one step at a time.Check the video above (a segment from Contested Streets) about the success of Copenhagen. Says Gehl:It's really wonderful to live in a city where everyday, when you wake up in the morning, you

lupang hinirang*

2008-07-06T16:56:00.004-04:00

This, before we talk about how to change a city:Caring About Places: ThresholdsGood places need to be excellent in many dimensionsThey need to be structured so we can remember them,They need to remind us of important things about our

hope for the city

2008-07-05T09:27:00.004-04:00

I've been on an unintended hiatus from blogging for almost two months. I've moved to a new company and job and a new city and the settling-in has taken time.Despite my absence from these pages, Manila hasn't been far from my thoughts. Mostly I've been thinking about the comments on this post from Carlos Celdran. Carlos posted a 1938 Andre de la Varre feature on Manila. The video is a

the net and the metro

2008-05-16T14:10:00.003-04:00

Being a mapping and graph geek, I've been thinking about the juxtaposition of cities and their websites. Is there any sort of relationship? Does the complexity of a city's website relate to the complexity or legibility of its built environment? Or do they speak more to the level of participation the city engenders through its online presence?Here are the webgraphs of four cities, two of ours

streets as valuable public spaces

2008-05-02T16:26:00.005-04:00

"treat streets as valuable public places, rather than utilitarian corridors"So says Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of New York City's Department of Transportation, as she introduced Gotham's new "Sustainable Streets" strategic plan.

leon chua and the memristor

2008-05-01T13:23:00.002-04:00

So, if you're geeky enough, you would have heard the HP has finally created the missing link in the "family of circuits" -the memristor."an entirely new kind of electronic device, which could make chips smaller and far more efficient...a computer built with memristors could allow PCs that start up instantly, laptops that retain sessions after the battery dies, or mobile phones that can last for

long time

2008-04-27T14:22:00.003-04:00

It's been nearly a month since my last post. I wonder if anyone is still with me. My apologies to the lack of responses to your comments. Work has gotten far too hectic lately, and it doesn't look like there will be any let up soon. The upside is there are exciting developments on the horizon.My unintended dormancy made me think of all some of my favorite blogs/bloggers that have gone silent:

what will the sustainable city of the future look like?

2008-04-01T17:07:00.002-04:00

What will the sustainable city of the future look like? from EMBARQ Network on Vimeo.Nancy Kete's speech at the World Conference on the Development of Cities in Porto Alegre, Brazil on February 16th, 2008.This is a must, must see video for any would be urbanist and for all environmentalists. Listen closely to her calls for visionary urban leaders and how our cities can save the world.Military

schadenfreude

2008-03-14T16:15:00.004-04:00

And you thought our traffic was bad. CityFix quotes Time Magazine, which recently named Bangkok The Capital of Gridlock.CityFix says that the author explained just how bad traffic can get in the Thai capital:“Police don’t consider traffic bad until a car is stationary for at least an hour. Really bad is two hours.”And they proceed to cite how the article relates traffic to a myriad of problems,

getting better public transit in metro manila (part 4)

2008-03-13T01:01:00.001-04:00

Mobilizing the political willto improve public transit in Metro ManilaPart 3: Divide and ConquerThis is part four of a series on how to improve public transit in Metro Manila.Reviewing again the previous posts:Step One is to change the frame. Improving public transit is not about decongesting traffic. It is about social justice. Step Two is to show an alternative vision. Discussing what is wrong

design of our democracy

2008-02-29T14:50:00.007-05:00

I've finally managed to turn this series into a pdf suitable for download (1.1mb).I've adapted it a bit, rewrote some sections that worked in the medium of a blog but didn't quite translate to paper.It's a bit of a slog but I hope you find the time to read through it. I hope it prompts some thinking.I also think its an opportune time to discuss why we seem to be stuck in a cycle of corrupt

if you want to know more about brt

2008-02-26T14:36:00.002-05:00

All About Bus Rapid TransitThis one's for the great folks over at the Philippine Forums of Skyscraper City who are discussing how we put up bus rapid transit in our cities:The Tri-State Transportation Campaign has a great online resource on Bus Rapid Transit -what it looks like, how it works (in urban and suburban settings). It's a very concise introduction to BRT systems and links to tons of

getting better public transit in metro manila (part 3)

2008-02-25T21:56:00.000-05:00

Mobilizing the political willto improve public transit in Metro ManilaPart 3: Building a winning coalitionThis is part three of a series on how to improve public transit in Metro Manila.To review where we have been:Step One is to change the frame. Improving public transit is not about decongesting traffic. It is about social justice. Step Two is to show an alternative vision. Discussing what is

supercarlosfragilistic

2008-02-24T13:00:00.003-05:00

Supercarlos, defender of UrbanitySorry Carlos, but I couldn't resist.* It's such a begging-to-be-photoshopped moment.I'm sure other readers have better photoshop-foo. So, at the risk of receiving Carlos' ire, I invite you to make your own version of our local (manila loving, tour guide) superhero.*Just say the word, and I'll take this down -UDC.

green from brown

2008-02-14T16:49:00.008-05:00

what the slums can teach usabout green designWe think squatter colonies are just about the least green places on earth. They are often dirty, rank places, that (at least in our imaginations) are rife with diseases. And yet, people who live in squatter colonies have the smallest ecological footprint of any population in our rapidly urbanizing earth.In the sanitized environment modern technology

getting better public transit in metro manila (part 2)

2008-02-13T20:13:00.001-05:00

Mobilizing the political willto improve public transit in Metro ManilaPart 2: A promise of what is possibleSo, first we have to change the frame of the conversation: from congestion to social justice.The consequence of a bad public transport system is not bad traffic (alone) but a fundamental inequity -where those who cannot afford cars or cannot afford to take cars everyday pay a greater share

the happy city

2008-02-10T09:17:00.000-05:00

A must read article from enRoute (via urbanism.org):All through the city, pavement has been wrested away from private cars and converted into sandboxes, plazas, dance floors and bike paths. Paris has joined a global movement that seeks to change not just streets but the very soul of urban spaces. Its adherents believe that cities can become engines not just of economic growth. But of

getting better public transit in metro manila (part 1)

2008-02-05T12:35:00.000-05:00

Mobilizing the political willto improve public transit in Metro ManilaPart 1: A sense of urgencyThis begins my long promised post on how to get better public transportation (in particular: bus rapid transit or BRT) in Metro Manila.The first thing we have to doThe first thing we have to do is to create a sense of urgency.To do that, we have to change the frame of the conversation.Ask anyone in

brt up close

2008-02-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

The public transportation systemwe could have in Metro ManilaHere's an even more in depth look at bus rapid transit -how it works and how it is managed, featuring Bogota's Transmilenio.The video is from The Oil Drum and was produced by Streetfilms, the same folks who gave you the documentary on Bogota's Ciclovia.Just so you know that BRT systems are not only about improving traffic, but is

yes, we can

2008-02-03T00:10:00.001-05:00

But of course I have to post this:

greens heart cities

2008-02-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

Or why environmentalists should learn to love Metro ManilaDo you consider yourself an environmentalist? Do you like the great outdoors and natural landscapes? Do you want to preserve them? -- Then you should be concerned about our cities and should be committed to making them better places to live:The NYT's Dot Earth blog neatly sums up the reasons why:Urban life can be productive and

balikbayan box

2008-01-31T16:59:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is only tangentially connected to urban issues (maybe to global migration patterns?) but it was a bit of a distinctly pinoy thrill to see the Balikbayan Box Cover featured on Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools:A Filipino friend came to the rescue with this simple, but incredibly effective solution (in the Philippines, when someone travels abroad, it's customary to ship his/her relatives a

yes!

2008-01-30T12:15:00.000-05:00

BRT in BeijingMetro Manila may get Bus Rapid TransitHat tip to the kids at skyscraper city and to anonymous for the comment.(Can't find the original source article just yet.) :Vol. XXI, No. 27Monday, September 3, 2007 | MANILA, PHILIPPINESThe NationBus rapid transport system to put orderon Metro Manila thorough fares (sic)METRO MANILA may soon put order to its bus system with the Department of

baltic ave = metro manila

2008-01-24T19:16:00.000-05:00

Get Metro Manila on the Monopoly BoardDon't forget to support Maruja's campaign to get Metro Manila on the Monopoly World Edition Board. Maruja writes:The company has pre-selected 68 cities, excluding Manila. However, savvy Pinoy Internet users are allowed to nominate Manila as a “Wildcard City”. How? Just register at the voting site and nominate “Manila, Philippines”. You need to make sure

squatter-free in 10 years?

2008-01-24T15:46:00.000-05:00

Can BF really clear Metro Manila of squatters?They have a plan, or so goes the claim of the Metro Manila Interagency Committee for Informal Settlers.* The committee, led by Bayani Fernando says their proposal, if implemented, will mean no squatters in Metro Manila by 2018.Tall order. Very tall order.If the MMDA can accomplish that, then they would have accomplished what every other megacity in

isko

2008-01-23T17:03:00.000-05:00

Got this one courtesy of Benito Vergara.UP SurveyMaligayang ika-100 taon, mga Iskolar ng Bayan!1. Student number?84-15516. Malas pag ang EPN first 3 reverse or last 3.2. College?Masscomm. Pumasok ako Institute pa lang. Nung nakatapos ako, College na sya. (Mas gusto sana namin yung "School of Mass Communication" -pero gaya gaya daw sa econ.)3. Ano ang course mo?Journalism. (wag mo nang itanong)4.

dumbest.idea.ever

2008-01-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Teodoro, MarcelinoRepresentativeMarikina City, 1st DistrictParty: LAKAS-CMDTerm: 1WARNING: This is a rantFreshman congressman Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (Lakas-CMD, 1st District, Marikina) wins this year's award for the dumbest urban management idea EVER.House Bill No. 2938 would allow free parking in shopping malls, hotels and other commercial establishments.How stupid is that? Talk about

looking for collaborators

2008-01-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

I'm getting tired of scouring the metro pages of the dailies, looking for significant news about our cities -and by significant, I mean anything to do with development, urban planning, real estate, investments, governance, infrastructure, management, and local politics.The metro pages of our dailies are filled with crime stories and they fail to cover news that actually affects the life of our

more air

2008-01-16T09:36:00.000-05:00

MIT's Technology Review has more on MDI's Air Car.The Air Car was supposed to hit the streets years ago, but its release always seems just around the corner. MDI announced in 2002 that the cars would be used to replace taxis in Mexico City, but nothing resulted.Tata's involvement this time around, combined with the fact that oil recently hit $100 a barrel, could change the game. India's largest

air is better

2008-01-15T15:27:00.000-05:00

And I don't mean Steve's newest baby.I'm referring to Guy Nègre's Air Powered Car that apparently just signed a deal with Tata Industries (yes, they of Tata Nano fame) to "explore further development and refinement of the technology, and its application and licensing for India."Not sure of the corporate-speak but I hope this leads to a production line.I've covered this before but the specs bear

belmonte gets it

2008-01-14T09:58:00.000-05:00

Sonny Belmonte gets it and says "cities are the new nations":Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the emergence of cities as centers of commerce and economic drivers of their respective countries has provided growing power to local governments, enabling local leaders to increase their influence in state affairs and in national breakthroughs.“Cities are malleable habitats for life. They

true cost of car ownership

2008-01-11T09:27:00.000-05:00

Robin Chase, founder of Zipcar,* had this to say about the Tata Nano.(I think it's a great argument for moving away from our auto-dominated urban transport paradigm.)We can think of the cost of a car has having three components (and yes, for those life cycle sticklers, I'm simplifying by ignoring the horrors associated with manufacturing and disposal for this post):THE CAR: purchase, depreciation

tata nano

2008-01-10T09:28:00.001-05:00

Tata Motors has unveiled the world's cheapest motor car at India's biggest car show in the capital, Delhi.The vehicle, called the Tata Nano, will sell for 100,000 rupees or $2,500 (£1,277) and enable those in developing countries to move to four wheels.Too bad Sarao didn't think of this. Of course, this probably isn't a good thing for cities.< couldn't resist... >Tata Nano.Alternate names:Tata

it takes a pink line

2008-01-09T15:47:00.000-05:00

Warning: Partly a rant.This is a gem:The MMDA will be painting pink lines on EDSA to keep cars from parking on the sidewalks. ("There are sidewalks on EDSA??? Where????")"Under the scheme, three-inch wide pink lines shall separate the sidewalks from the roadways in an attempt to strictly enforce illegal parking laws."Er, we need the pink lines to enforce parking laws? Don't we need enforcement

control

2008-01-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

And then, there's this commentary from Jeb Brugmann in yesterday's Globe and Mail."The recent violence in Kenya is part of an increasingly chronic condition in a world that is cramming — without effective urban investment, planning and management — into its cities," so says Brugmann. I agree, but then Brugmann goes on:From Nairobi to Paris, Guangzhou to La Paz, riots and political upheaval have

look ma, no lights

2008-01-08T16:21:00.000-05:00

...and no traffic buildup either.Via boingboing:Of course it's been sped up. (Notice the pedestrians).But did you also notice, despite the seeming chaos, that there is no traffic buildup?Which makes me wonder if Europe's experiment with taking away traffic signs can work even in megacities.

seven

2007-12-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

Expanding Mass Transit in Metro ManilaNEDA's given the greenlight to MRT-7. The pricetag? $3.3B, but that doesn't all go to rail:The scheme calls for a 20-kilometer light rail system integrated with a 20-kilometer highway that will link the North Triangle area in Quezon City with San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan province.“So all in all, this will be a 40-kilometer project and will come at no

blinders or blindspot

2007-12-30T14:02:00.000-05:00

Buses and traffic discipline in Metro ManilaThese were my comments on iReport's "Too many buses, too many agencies clog Edsa": (hat tip to Eugene for leading me to the article)Margie Grey's PCIJ article on the travails of the public bus system in Metro Manila was (characteristically) well researched and gives a quick overview of the confusing governance of traffic numbers involved in the PUB

competition

2007-12-27T08:36:00.001-05:00

So, this is what happens when you're so surrounded by artists that you take them for granted: somebody else claims the crown.This, from the Jakarta Post:Festivals promote Jakarta as regional cultural capitalBehind the visible poverty, endless traffic jams and nauseating polluted air, Jakarta has hidden treasures that are unrivaled by other big cities in the country, and possibly even in Southeast

the city of god

2007-12-24T08:32:00.000-05:00

Psalm 46 (The Message)A Song of the Sons of Korah1-3 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling

urbannovation

2007-12-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

Innovation and CitiesThose folks preparing the National Innovation Strategy* could do well to read the reports on innovation and cities from the U.K.'s NESTA (National Endowment for Science and Technology).They should pay particular interest to the Innovation and the city (pdf) report and the Leading Innovation (pdf) report.The conclusions sync right into our discussion of the role of cities and

viva voce

2007-12-22T16:18:00.000-05:00

So it's been a busy week. (I miss the work lethargy of Christmas in the Philippines.)I got interviewed about my project on one of my favorite radio shows/ podcasts. You can download or listen to the show here.This was the blurb:Benjamin dela Peña and Bill Fulton are collaborating to provide tools for communities to use to figure out step-by-step how they achieve smart growth. Benjamin is the

measures of success

2007-12-13T19:18:00.000-05:00

These were my comments on Dave Llorito's latest post on the "success" of the MRT and how changing the pricing could decongest it and reduce the required subsidies:Here's the news: very, very few mass transit systems in the world are profitable. I think only HK's metro and Tokyo's system make money. Even NYC's MTA is short on cash. Most systems are heavily subsidized. Why? Because the governments

ciclovia

2007-12-07T09:23:00.000-05:00

If you've ten minutes to spare, watch this short video from StreetsBlog featuring Bogota's Ciclovia program.Every Sunday (and during holidays), from 7 am to 2 pm the city sets up 130 kilometers of roads and reserves them for biking, jogging, running and skating. It's a weekly festival that gets people out and exercising and interacting and just enjoying the city.Clarence Eckerson shot the video

cars vs. brt

2007-12-03T09:04:00.000-05:00

(V.O.: ...and now we return you to our regular programming.)I've illustrated this before, but if you need more convincing, try this very short video by Carlos Pardo of the Sustainable Urban Transport Project. (Via Richard Layman's Rebuilding Place in Urban Space.)Seen it? Like it? Share it by emailing this link.Ready to come up with the standard excuses of why this can't work in Metro Manila?

ilang tulog na lang

2007-12-02T08:35:00.000-05:00

layoutcodez.netContinuing our rant: this via, Ang Tagal Naman.

sobra na, tama na

2007-11-30T16:45:00.000-05:00

via the Philippine Comedian and IndioSign(I know. I know. I'm ranting. I'll be over it soon.)

whoa

2007-11-29T12:40:00.000-05:00

The Edushi interface, showing Shanghai riverfront (the Bund)Detail from Shanghai map(Eugene, have you seen this one?)Forget getting Metro Manila on GoogleEarth or GoogleMaps, LiveSearch or even OpenStreetMap. Call in the Chinese and ask them to put our metropolis on Edushi.com (Ch.).Found them via Digital Urban.The graphic detail is nothing short of delicious. Check out the map of Shanghai.

new rules

2007-11-29T08:17:00.000-05:00

New Rule #1: NO MORE HOTELSIf you are planning a military putsch but don't have the balls to try to take the queen in the palace, don't take a hotel. Try to take a significant installation, like say a petroleum depot or a TV station.Why a hotel? So you have comfy beds and a kitchen staff? How soft are the underbellies of these adventurists? Why does it always have to be a hotel?New Rule #2:NO

filipinnovation

2007-11-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

This, from yesterday's BusinessWorld Online* RP positions as region’s innovation hubTHE PHILIPPINES is positioning itself as Asia’s innovation hub that can be competitive with the rest of the world, by institutionalizing a culture of innovation across multiple sectors.The country’s positioning strategy is embodied in an 18-page document summarizing the country’s National Innovation Strategy which

cheap

2007-11-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

So, we're the 19th most expensive city for expatriates:Manila has been found to be Asia’s 19th costliest city for expatriates, according to the latest twice-yearly survey by human resources firm ECA International that surveyed 39 select cities in the region.Jakarta was the 11th most expensive place and Bangkok was in 18th place, while Hanoi landed in 32nd place — more expensive than Kuala Lumpur

the case for the pedicab

2007-11-26T13:20:00.000-05:00

So, this is my first post on The City Fix. Recognize parts of it? -UDCPedicabs like this one above are found throughout the world.Photo by drs2biz from Flickr.To celebrate World Town Planning Day, the Ontario Planners Institute called on planners, towns and cities to “start planning ahead for a future where the car is a thing of the past.” Although it’s difficult to imagine a post-car city, we

readability

2007-11-24T23:19:00.000-05:00

Is that why I only have a dozen readers? HAHAHAHA.(Watch out when you do the readability link. They throw in an ad into the code.)

19.20.21

2007-11-22T09:10:00.001-05:00

Eugene sent me a link to this project.The mission of 19.20.21 is a multi-year, multimedia initiative to collect, organize and package information on population's effect regarding urban and business planning and its impact on consumers around the world. This 5+ year initiative will deliver results via 5 channels: online, television, print, exhibits and seminars. This project will include 10

city fix

2007-11-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

So, I've been accepted as a contributor to Embarq's The City Fix blog. They'll run my first post next week.The BIG IDEA behind The City Fix is:"...cities do not have to be chaotic, contaminated, and clogged with cars. With the appropriate planning and design, cities can accommodate the current influx of new people while also improving the quality of life for their residents. By focusing on the

something to think about

2007-11-19T19:01:00.000-05:00

This one from Robert Neurwith's SquatterCities blog:Mega Cities expert Janice Perlman makes a profound statement:"The international funding agencies of investment institutions need to give more to urban development and less to rural development," said Perlman. "I’ve argued that the people who come to the city [and live in squatter developments] are the cream of the crop with the highest ambitions

what BRT looks like

2007-11-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

If you've got ten minutes, here's a good intro on what BRT can do for a megacity like Mexico.It comes across as a little bit of hard sell but it could just be lost in translation.Can you imagine this in our megacity?

step one

2007-11-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

So we've talked about how more people in Metro Manila take public transportation than drive private cars; about how prioritizing public transit, focusing on moving people, is a vastly more efficient use of our roads than just working on moving vehicles; and about how our public transit woes are tied down to the boundary system that governs the business.The common theme in the discussion about

one sim city per child

2007-11-09T08:09:00.000-05:00

SimCity on an OLPC to help kids understand cities. What's not to love?This one via Slashdot SimHacker writes"Electronic Arts has donated the original 'classic' version of Will Wright's popular SimCity game to the One Laptop Per Child project. SimCity is the epitome of constructionist educational games, and has been widely used by educators to unlock and speed-up the transformational skills

green bridges

2007-11-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

Dear Kuya B,*When I first heard that QC was building a tunnel so that pedestrians could simply walk from QC Hall to the Quezon Memorial Park, what entered my mind was an underground passage for CARS as they turn from East Ave towards Kalayaan/Philcoa, that would effectively allow the park to extend its green area all the way to front steps of city hall.Alas(kado), I was obviously dreaming.But

how to do it, how not to

2007-11-07T07:11:00.000-05:00

Here's the good news from Mexico City's MetroBus (sp.) BRT system (via WorldChanging):Mexico City, Mexico's MetrobusTo date, ridership is up, with 164 million users since Metrobus began operating. Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard wants to see nine more such corridors installed before the end of his term. Much cheaper than subway construction, these new lines will move as many as 1.7 million

agro-housing and cars that fold

2007-11-05T22:29:00.000-05:00

(via ASLA's The Dirt blog)The building above is the proposed concept design for Agro-Housing, Knafo Klimor's winning entry in the the 2nd International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing. (Here's the write-up, more illustrations, a pdf presentation and a video tour.)Basically it's a 12-story residential building with apartment units wrapping around a vertical greenhouse core.

eco-cities and mega-regions

2007-10-31T12:10:00.000-04:00

Note: It's been a little tough around here, so again my apologies for not giving timely responses to your comments. We were terribly affected by the loss of Jack. Top that off with losing my eldest brother the month before, and Ana X a few months earlier. So it's been quite a year. I had started several posts -all of them are stuck in some half complete form that I will hopefully get around to

jack

2007-10-29T07:35:00.000-04:00

Fully Charged Jack from junisimbulan on Vimeo.The saddest news: we lost brave Jack last night. He was six.The video above was Jack after his last tranfusion in L.A.He came home to battle an infection. He was in the hospital for over a month, the last week or so in the ICU.My thoughts and prayers go out to his parents and family.It is very very hard to say goodbye. But it is selfish to keep

the logic of political survival

2007-10-26T16:07:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for a next book to read, pick up Bruce Bueno de Mesquita's (et. al.) "The Logic of Political Survival" (MIT Press).(This might be of particular interest to you, Koikaze)Bueno de Mesquita's thoughts on the "selectorate" and the "winning coalition" could pretty well explain the Arroyo-Estrada love dance and even explain the conduct of our national politics. (It also echoes MLQ's

reprint: on the boundary system

2007-10-23T10:58:00.000-04:00

Note: OK, I'm being lazy. Here's a replay of my old post -from August of 2008 2005 (thanks, chesca), on how the economic model of public transport in the city shapes both driver behavior and our actual built environment. You can catch the original post and the comments here. And here's the whole series on disorganized transport.The Boundary System as a city shaper. Cities are self-organizing

congestion

2007-10-20T21:21:00.001-04:00

Note: Anyone still here? The operative word, as far as work is concerned, is "tuliro" -- and I've been running around like a headless chicken working to close several projects. I wrote this sitting in a DC airport, waiting for a flight that was delayed for three hours. rather than working on my projects, I squeaked in some-not-so-quality blog time.I wound up in wifi hell on the shores of Lake

rethinking public transport

2007-09-17T15:30:00.000-04:00

So, had enough of the Erap verdict? If you haven't, go visit Roby Alampay's op-ed piece in The Guardian UK (which I consider to be the last word on the matter), then come back here so we can talk about more immediate matters, like the quality of daily life in our megacity.Question: If you were running a company and you knew that 78% of your assets traveled through a single channel, wouldn't it

nice map

2007-09-13T15:30:00.000-04:00

Found this Time population map via the Signal v. Noise blog on 37Signals.It warms my map geek and data visualization heart. (See the original -and bigger version here.)TIME Graphic by Joe LertolaFrom US Census Data

new cities in new valleys

2007-09-11T15:45:00.000-04:00

I've talked about Ayala Land's vast land holdings in Canlubang before and how that will definitely figure into the future of our megacity. Apparently they've laid out the vision of the shape of that new development. (Ah, the tribulations of unrequited and long distance love - when you live and work away from the city you call home. News gets by without you.)Jo, the ManilaRat, keyed me in on the

brand and neurwith on cities

2007-09-08T16:47:00.000-04:00

This one's short but sweet: from the TED Talks, a 3 minute version of Stewart Brand's talk on cities.And if you have more time (14 minutes) here's Neurwith on Squatter Cities.

"A Boy with Mickey Mouse Hands"

2007-09-07T21:31:00.000-04:00

The Los Angeles Asian Journal featured Jack in the pages of its Sept. 5-7, 2007 issue.Cynthia de Castro's article on Jack starts below the fold on the front page (all links to pdf copies), and continues on page 4, page 5, and page 11.

jack

2007-09-04T16:07:00.000-04:00

Please keep praying for Jack.(Doodle is Jack's latest -while he is confined at the Children's Hospital of L.A.)It reads:ThornCrossPrayer for Jack: Lord help Jack live long. Amen.Prayer for healing: Heal Jack Lord. Amen.

connection, connection, connection

2007-08-31T11:45:00.000-04:00

This was my reply to Carlos Celdran's latest post about Manila reopening restaurants in Intramuros as a trade-off to closing down the establishments on the Baywalk:I'd welcome the re-establishment of restaurants in Intramuros with, as you say, clear building guidelines and oversight.What is clearly missing though is a convenient physical link between Intramuros and the rest of the city.Was it

back to the future

2007-08-31T10:04:00.000-04:00

Note: I am particularly envious of the discipline and the prolificacy of bloggers like caffeine_sparks, ExpectoRants, village idiot savant and Senor Enrique who seem to have something new and significant to say everyday (Resty seems to have 4 everyday!). I, on the other hand, struggle to keep up with just with the comments -especially when they (That's you Peter. That's also you, Fred.)

to r.o.

2007-08-22T17:36:00.000-04:00

This is a reply to Baldagyi Hatipoglu's latest Expecto-Rant.Whew, that was a long one, Resty. Reposting my reply in your comments, here:(Yes, Resty) Central Business Districts rarely have any soul. Check around any city -and the CBD would be the last place you will find authenticity.It's in the Village, in Upper West Side, in Soho, in Tribeca that you will find people and a sense of place. Not

links monday 081307

2007-08-13T10:23:00.000-04:00

(Er, tuesday?...two weeks later? Aside: I've noticed that I hit a major snag immediately after I announce a series or an intention to start a series. Laws of the universe? I propose a UDC Theorem: "Your rate of posting on your blog suffers delays the moment you announce a thematic series of posts." Does that hold true for you?)So here's a roundup of the links:Icon Magazine's August issue sends

links monday 073007

2007-07-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

If you've been too busy to read through those very interesting links I've been putting in the Quick Links and Notable Posts on the Metro at the bottom of this page (both list are sourced from my del.icio.us links here, and here) , as well as the links to the Notable articles on top of my sidebar, I've decided to (*fingers crossed*) devote Mondays to a roundup of those links.The articles are great

why are there squatters?

2007-07-28T17:21:00.000-04:00

(This entry is meant partly as an answer to Peter Anglionto's comment in a previous post and also as an expansion of the ideas from the last entry. Get a cup of coffee, this is a long one.)The national government declared the other day that it would spend US$ 1.1 billion to resettle squatters in Metro Manila. The government plans to construct 265,955 housing units with each housing unit costing

growing metro manila

2007-07-24T14:37:00.000-04:00

The animation above shows the rapid growth of highly urbanized areas (areas in yellow) in the National Capital Region from 1948 to 1999, and, as estimated, by 2015.The growth is nothing short of spectacular.Starting with just 83 square kilometers in 1945, the metro grew thus:1948 =83 km21966 =221 km21975 =323 km21996 =788 km22015 =1,512 km2 (projected)(Click on the year to see a snapshot for

manila by night

2007-07-22T03:45:00.000-04:00

Google Earth has released several new layers, among them NASA sourced content including Earth By Night.Seeing the human generated lights on the night time hemispheres is not only beautiful, but they also reveal the urbanization patterns across the landscape. (They also show how much light pollution we generate.) The screencap above shows how the megamanila urbanized region stretches from Clark

"non-conformist mayor"

2007-07-17T22:13:00.000-04:00

I bet you won't find Mayor Sergio Fajardo, of Medellin, Colombia tearing down a pedestrian mall to make way for car and jeepney traffic. No, he's as non-conformist (read: visionary) as they come.The NYT featured the good Mayor and the turnaround city of Medellin, showcasing Fajardo's simple but radical idea:“Our most beautiful buildings,” said Mr. Fajardo, 51, “must be in our poorest areas.”With

the changing city

2007-07-11T17:29:00.000-04:00

The Manila Standard reports (via Yehey News) on Quezon City's plans for building the biggest business district in Metro Manila.(QC Mayor Sonny Belmonte) said the area would be organized into five districts: The Triangle Exchange, The Residences at Veterans, The Downtown Hub, The Emporium and The Commons.* The 54.3-hectare Triangle Exchange will be a high-traffic commercial and residential