Welcome to
My Urban Curious Blog:
Authoritative, Affectionate, and Occasionally Absurd
I have been writing about cities, urban design, and the quirks of how people live together for more than twenty-five years. Some of that writing has been technical, or professional. Some has been quirky, or heartfelt. Some has been—let’s be honest here—slightly absurd, usually after an unusually strong espresso.
Post-Mentorship: Where Are They Now and What Next?
Like many Registered Professional Planners (RPPs), I’m dedicated to giving back to the profession that has given me so much. Since my induction into the Institute, this has included mentoring "launching" planners. This article focuses on five of the over 20 people I have had the privilege to mentor.
PlanGirl Travels: Lessons to Bring Home
Installment #13:
High-Tech Cycling Infrastructure
This article advocates for a more robust cycling infrastructure in British Columbia, highlighting the importance of promoting low-GHG transportation. Drawing inspiration from European cities, I explore both high-tech solutions — like Trondheim’s bike lift and Copenhagen’s Cycle Snake — and lower-cost alternatives like separated bike lanes.
PlanGirl Travels: Lessons to Bring Home… From Puerto Rico
Installment #16:
Recovery Planning in Puerto Rico
North America is struggling under a confluence of steep challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic; the legacy of systemic racism; and the climate crisis, including the massive forest fires along the west coast of the United States. Each threat compounds and complicates the others. I studied Puerto Rico for lessons to bring home to British Columbia.
PlanGirl Travels: Lessons to Bring Home
Installment #15:
BC Views of Three Asian Cities
I studied three "Asian Tiger" cities and found that many of the solutions we dub "leading-edge" in Canada, including those we refer to as "alternative development standards," are just the ordinary course of business in parts of Asia.