EngagingCities

Plus, Stanford University policy lab releases data on millions of U.S. traffic stops; three takeaways from Open Data Day 2019; and San Antonio passes a new cross-agency data-sharing agreement.

Cities are desperate to tame the sidewalk chaos of the e-scooter industry. One startup offers a solar-powered parking solution.

Democracy Donuts is bridging the divide between voters across the political spectrum, one donut at a time.

Los Angeles is a city of 4 million people. And it might soon launch a tiny office — of as many as eight people — to help those residents better participate in their government. And in California, this would be a big advance. Because while governance in our state is as complicated as a Google algorithm, we offer precious little assistance to Californians who seek to engage with it. In our state, the people who run for office, vote, and participate in other ways (from attending public meetings to protesting) are whiter, richer and better educated than the state population as a whole.

1,000 smart city pilots are under construction or in their final planning stages across the globe, driving forward countless visions of the future.

A Miami suburb might be the first in the nation to let residents participate in -- not just watch -- public meetings from anywhere they have an internet connection.

Explore Lego Serious Play, a proven tool for boosting both individual and team productivity.

What do a BMX center, a church and an international marketplace have in common? Finding creative reuses of derelict commercial space that spark connections between people.

New User Experiences for Cycling is a speculative design film produced by the Future Cities Catapult. The short film proposes five sketch prototypes of potential new cycling experiences based on existing or near-future technologies. These were conceived in response to challenges such as wayfinding, safety or air quality.

For over a decade, Omidyar Network has been supporting and investing in the civic tech sector.  From the very early days we have backed the most talented entrepreneurs who are seeking to use technology to empower citizens or make government more accessible, efficient, and effective. In this time, we’ve invested nearly $90 million in 35 nonprofit and for-profit organizations

In the past three-ish years since the Department of Transportation issued its Smart City Challenge, there has been a flurry of activity across U.S. cities large and small. Some cities are quickly modernizing, some cities are testing and piloting, and all cities have some level of anxiety about what to do next.

If you’re confused, it’s okay, you’re not alone. There is a lot going on and it can be easy to get swirled up in the hype. Here is an overview of some key misconceptions and clarifying information about smart cities.

Plus, Buffalo, N.Y., creates a new open data portal, Baton Rouge, La., launches a new website, San Antonio forms a committee to address tech issues, and Ohio moves to a second phase of its Opioid Technology Challenge.

Government is a great place to work for technologists, data scientists, designers and entrepreneurs who want to serve and solve problems for the American people.

The Chris Traeger List recognizes the top 100 influencers in local government. Chris Traeger was the city manager for the fictional City of Pawnee, Indiana on the show Park and Recreation. He was known for extreme energy and commitment to improving local government. The Traeger List is not based on title or longevity. It’s based on an individual’s influence in their community and professional associations.

Adolescents and young adults are encouraged to get involved in their communities through voting, volunteering, or becoming active in a cause.

Universities are experimenting with AI and big data to improve how students live and learn on campus

Each card in "Imaginable Guidelines" is illustrated by a local artist and represents one aspect of urban design, ranging from street vendors to sidewalk dimensions, in order to give players a shared vocabulary and base of knowledge with which to talk about their city.

Improvements in infrastructure and programming in public spaces are easy to see: upgraded playgrounds, renovated libraries, and food, music and activities that draw diverse people into a space. Civic…

In the small fishing town of Ísafjörður, Iceland, an exciting development in road safety has just popped up - almost literally. A new pedestrian crossing has been painted that appears to be 3D by way of a cleverly-detailed optical illusion.

Unshoveled sidewalks during the winter months are a persistent problem for cities in the snow belt. For places with significant snowfall, unshoveled sidewalks pose a challenge to public safety and mobility for those that rely on walking (or public transit), and present an especially acute problem for those that have physical impairments. Uncleared snowfall on other kinds of…

A report on the current state of Internet technologies, policies, and content management systems adopted by 600 cities across the United States, including recommended steps cities should take to improve technology assets in 2019.

This piece was written by Alice Carter, a product manager at the UK’s Ministry of Justice. For more like this, see our government innovation newsfeed. At the end of last year, the UK Ministry of Justice’s User-Centred Policy Design unit (UCPD) were nominated for Apolitical’s Public Service Team of the Year. UCPD is about involving the user at every point of the policymaking cycle

Join us for the latest in our free Heart & Soul Talks series.
In today’s fractionalized, tribalized world it seems what divides us is often more apparent than what unites us. Add the cacophonous soundtrack of incivility that dominates discourse and a toxic environment emerges that is fraying the fabric or our communities. Most Americans would like to see things change. We talk with leaders committed to making change happen using creative and innovative ways to educate, communicate, and engage residents, all designed to be used by anyone wishing to start positive change—right now.

When a city's character honors and reflects the local culture, everyone benefits.

Reflections from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's first Artist-in-Residence at the conclusion of her 18-month residency.