Karlsruhe
By Hans Pul
Regional marketing booms. Small (and big) cities team up in regional cooperations, in order to get noticed in the international arena. Together, regional actors aim to attract investors, potential employees and tourists. Career opportunities and quality of life play an important role in this respect. Richard Florida’s well-known book The Rise of the Creative Class, Cities and the Creative Class (2002) proves to be influential once again. Continue reading
by Hans Pul
Copenhagen is well-known as a bicycle-friendly city internationally. The city is known for the high share of cycling in commuter traffic (36%), its wide cycling lanes (in Copenhagen 2,5-2,8 metre wide cycling lanes are the new standard, in order to fit 3 cyclists next to each other), as well as for its bicycle friendly public transport. Cycling seems to help establish Copenhagen as a green and friendly place. Copenhagen has become a reference city for policy makers and urban planners. Photos of Copenhagen city scenes appear in planning documents of local governments around the world.
Cycling in Copenhagen has gained new interest in blogosphere and media. The city of Copenhagen gains a lot of exposure with its cycling infrastructure and cycling culture, especially internationally. Recently, for example, Al Jazeera dedicated a 5-minute documentary to cycling in Copenhagen. The video ‘Cycle city’ gives an overview of cycling as an urban transport mode (see video after the break).
Filed under opinions
A photo from Brand USA, Inc website
By Efe Sevin
Last week, we had a short discussion about a new branding initiative, Brand USA, Inc, on Place Management & Branding’s Facebook page. I just wanted to write a short post about my take of this project. By coincidence, I, together with a colleague from Howard University, decided to drive to Louisiana from Washington, DC. to attend National Communication Association’s Annual Conference. On our way to New Orleans, we had the opportunity to observe how “Yes We Can!” and “Change” bumper stickers were replaced by humongous crosses and “We do not deliver ‘aids’ to our enemies” slogans. Let me shortly reflect on Brand USA and my interaction with my observation of ‘diverse’ America.
Filed under opinions, pick of the day
By Renard Teipelke
In the night from Sunday to Monday history was made. The Dallas Mavericks won the prestigious NBA finals against Miami Heat in the sixth game. NBA? Well, this acronym stands for “National Basketball Association,” i.e. the world-famous basketball league of the United States. Why was it historic? Because with Dallas Mavericks’ team captain Dirk Nowitzki, the first and only German basketball player in NBA’s history won the trophy. He was elected the most valuable player of the finals and made essential contributions to his team’s success over the course of the season and even more during the playoff elimination games. Besides the finals’ success, Nowitzki has played in the most competitive basketball league of the world for more than a decade, disappointingly lost the 2006 finals with the Dallas Mavericks against Miami Heat, and was already mocked as “No-Win-zki” as he was one of the great players in NBA’s history who played multiple playoff elimination games without eventually reaching/winning the finals.
Filed under opinions, pick of the day
