MinnPost.com photo by Steve BergSkyways -- enclosed, elevated sidewalks -- have protected pedestrians from the brutal weather in Minneapolis and St. Paul for decades. But these 1970s relics have also been accused of killing pedestrian activity on city streets. To start a public conversation about alternatives, Architecture Minnesota magazine held a video competition and screened the hilarious results at a lively public event. The six finalists included a rap comparing Twin Cities pedestrians to hamsters and a haunting clip of zombie pedestrians piling up in a dead-end skyway to nowhere.
Read full story at MinnPost
More from the week in urbanism:
How Mountain View Revived Its Downtown
Bruce Liedstrand, the former city manager and redevelopment director for Mountain View, CA, explains how the city revitalized its core and changed its image from sleepy dormitory community to lively, vibrant downtown.
Read full story at New Urban Network
Places That Work: Holland's Sidewalks
The small town of Holland, Michigan, created a network of heated sidewalks by diverting stored waste heat from a local powerplant to underground pipes, allowing pedestrian activity to flourish regardless of weather.
Read full story at Metropolis
How Venice Works
A video exploring how the complex and ancient city of Venice functions. Residents must navigate 124 islands, 183 canals and 438 bridges -- and city government must maintain and defend them all from encroaching water.
Read full story at Open Culture