For a Better and Safer City Flow, New Urbanism is the Way to Go

By Ben Ahrens Published on May. 27, 2023

Discover how a flexible approach to work can aid the revitalization of urban areas. Explore the benefits of New Urbanism and hybrid work schedules, from reduced traffic congestion to increased access to job opportunities, and learn how employers and employees alike can contribute to creating sustainable, vibrant communities through this new work paradigm.

New Urbanism and the resurgence of human-centric neighborhoods

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New Urbanism is a movement that began in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an effort to create more human-scaled cities. It prioritizes compact, walkable neighborhoods with mixed-use development and public spaces designed for pedestrians. The idea is to make cities more livable by putting people back at the center of their urban environment. This means creating areas where people can live, work, play, and shop near one another, reducing the need for cars and other forms of transportation.

The principles of New Urbanism are rooted in traditional neighborhood design, where streets are narrow and winding, and buildings are built close together to create an intimate atmosphere that encourages interactions between neighbors within the community. This type of city planning also utilizes shared public spaces such as parks and plazas that can host farmers' markets or outdoor movie screenings, providing citizens with safer places to gather outside without worrying about traffic or pollution.

new urbanism_city center park layout

In addition to improving residents' quality of life, New Urbanism also has many environmental benefits. By making efficient use of space, it reduces the amount of land needed for roads and parking lots while eliminating associated emissions from vehicles such as CO2. Furthermore, its emphasis on walkability makes it easier for citizens to access goods and services without driving, reducing air pollution from vehicles.


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Overall, New Urbanism can help revitalize cities while improving their sustainability by allowing them to become more energy efficient through better use of space. By creating neighborhoods explicitly designed for pedestrians and cyclists instead of cars, it makes cities healthier, more livable places where everyone can have access to a high quality of life while reducing their environmental impact.

What is hybrid remote work, and how does it foster innovative building solutions?

Hybrid work schedules are a new form of remote working that combines virtual and physical workspaces. Hybrid work schedules allow employees to work remotely and from their own office or home while also providing some degree of presence in the office. Employers stand to benefit from the cost savings associated with remote working while still enjoying the perks of having employees on-site at times. Remote work can help employers save on office space and equipment costs, employee transportation, and overhead costs. But remote work also allows employers to access a wider pool of talent, develop a more diverse and inclusive work environment and utilize on-site events for team-building and improved communication. Ultimately, remote work provides cost savings without sacrificing physical presence, resulting in an economically viable and satisfying workplace for employees.

new urbanism_remote worker at home

Hybrid work schedules have become popular for urban employees, as they offer numerous benefits beyond increased job satisfaction and flexibility. For example, embracing New Urbanism principles can create smaller and more functional office spaces for workers. Integrating retail and grocery stores into office complexes allows employees to run errands more easily or complete essential tasks while taking breaks. Plus, shorter commute times mean more time to enjoy all that urban areas have to offer.

For employers, hybrid work schedules can result in reduced overhead costs associated with maintaining a traditional workspace for all employees. Moreover, it allows employers to tap into talent pools traditionally underserved by conventional workspaces; this could include employed parents who might not be able to travel far distances for work due to childcare needs or disabled individuals who need greater flexibility regarding their physical workspace. Furthermore, with fewer people in the office at any given time, businesses can reduce their energy consumption and other operational costs associated with having an entire office space open at all times.

Hybrid work schedules provide employers and employees with numerous benefits. Ultimately, these types of innovative workspaces represent an exciting new way for businesses everywhere to maximize productivity while still allowing their team members autonomy over how they manage their workloads each day.

New Urbanism benefits through improved mobility options such as traffic control and sustainable transport

Hybrid work schedules offer numerous benefits for workers and their employers. For one, reduced traffic congestion and, thus, increased traffic control is one of the most attractive benefits for individuals who use a hybrid schedule. With fewer cars on the road during peak hours, traffic congestion decreases, leading to shorter commutes and less time wasted in gridlock. This benefit also extends to employers — with less road traffic, deliveries reach their destinations faster, and goods can be shipped more quickly.

new urbanism_traffic & city congestion

In addition to reducing traffic congestion, hybrid work schedules also increase access to job opportunities for those seeking employment. With flexible hours and remote working options available, individuals who may have been previously unable to find work due to limited mobility or location can now seek job opportunities that better fit their lifestyle.

Several mobility options are available for workers who use a hybrid schedule that make it easier to get around town. Biking is one of the micromobility options that many commuters take advantage of — with bike lanes all over town and special bike-share programs in some cities, biking allows commuters to make short trips without having to deal with the hassle of finding parking or paying for public transportation. Additionally, public transit is another viable option for those using a hybrid schedule — bus lines and trains provide access throughout the city at an affordable price and often include special fare discounts for commuters using public transit regularly. STMicroelectronics and Plug and Play recently teamed up to get together the leading industry players who are shaping the future of mobility, so be sure to check out the full video below to learn more.

Autonomous driving is another mobility option that is revolutionizing the way we think about transportation. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and sensing technology, driverless cars now have the potential to provide new options for those living in urban areas. This can improve safety, reduce emissions, increase convenience, and offer more efficient ways of getting around town. With autonomous cars and increased hyperconnection between vehicles, people in New Urbanism communities can access a wide range of services, from ride-sharing and carpooling to point-to-point travel and on-demand delivery, with greater ease than ever before. Autonomous vehicles promise to revolutionize how people move through cities, improving access and making life more convenient for those living in these neighborhoods.

Examining potential challenges associated with the growth of New Urbanism

The growth of hybrid work schedules and New Urbanism are bringing up some unique challenges that must be addressed if the concept is to continue to grow in popularity. One challenge is that many people may feel uncomfortable commuting between their homes and places of employment after dark or alone. New Urbanism attempts to create walkable communities with access to services. Still, many people may feel unsafe taking advantage of these services if they cannot guarantee a safe environment.

new urbanism_frustrated remote worker

Another challenge is maintaining a balance between work and home life; working from a home office can make it difficult for employees to disconnect from their jobs and relax in their personal spaces. With this is an increased risk of overworking due to a lack of separation between one's professional and personal lives. All these issues must be addressed for New Urbanism to continue its rise as an urban planning concept.

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The concept of New Urbanism is exciting, offering the potential to move urbanization to higher efficiency and sustainability. Hybrid work schedules provide numerous benefits for employees and employers, allowing organizations to reutilize office space as needed. Meanwhile, new micromobility solutions such as bikes can enable the smooth transition of workers from home to the office. Moreover, public transit and autonomous vehicles can play a crucial role in making this transition to easily walkable city environments safe and prompt, and transportation needs in cities will continue to evolve significantly in the near future.


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