PodcastPodcast

The Problem With Streets and Climate Disasters

Podcast: During the Palisades fire, gridlock in Los Angeles forced many people to abandon their cars and flee on foot. Planners and researchers recognize the dangers of evacuating thousands at a moment’s notice and argue that our streets urgently need to be redesigned.

A firefighter tries to extinguish wildfire flames at a burning apartment building during the Eaton Fire, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, California.

A firefighter tries to extinguish flames at a burning apartment building during the Eaton Fire, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. (Photo by Chris Pizzello / AP)

This is your first of three free stories this month. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks.

Become A Member

When fires swept through the wealthy L.A. enclave known as the Pacific Palisades, the images were chaotic: cars abandoned on Sunset Boulevard, people fleeing on foot. A bulldozer had to plow through the traffic just so firefighters could reach the flames.

“In the event of a climate disaster, we can't always count on our cars to protect us,” notes Maylin Tu, Next City's L.A.-based Equitable Cities Reporting Fellow for Social Impact Design. “You kind of get a sense of safety and .. insularity in being in a car and feeling like you are not only mobile, but you're safe and you're protected. And this really kind of brought home that in a, in the case of some climate disasters, like your car is not going to save you.”

Tu recently covered UCLA urban planning professor Adam Millard-Ball's recent research on street connectivity in Los Angeles. He and other transportation planning experts hope rebuilding is an opportunity to rethink how L.A.'s streets work.

“If all the traffic that's coming out has to flow through one or two intersections, that's a recipe for chaos in a emergency situation,” says Adam Millard-Ball, a professor of urban planning at UCLA and director of the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. “This is not what the streets were built for.”

Listen to the episode below or subscribe to the Next City podcast on AppleSpotify or Goodpods.

Like what you’re reading? Get a browser notification whenever we post a new story. You’re signed-up for browser notifications of new stories. No longer want to be notified? Unsubscribe.
×
Next City App Never Miss A StoryDownload our app ×
Already a Next City member? Log in here
×

You've reached your monthly limit of three free stories.

This is not a paywall. Become a free or sustaining member to continue reading.

  • Read unlimited stories each month
  • Our email newsletter
  • Webinars and ebooks in one click
  • Our Solutions of the Year magazine
  • Support solutions journalism and preserve access to all readers who work to liberate cities

Or you can join for free—because we never want to create a financial barrier to information about fostering greater equity.

Join 1169 other sustainers such as:

  • Olivia in Allen, TX at $25/year
  • Anonymous in Sacramento, CA at $150/year
  • Anonymous at $10/month

U.S. donations are tax-deductible minus the value of thank-you gifts. Questions? Learn more about our membership options.

or pay by credit card:

All members are automatically signed-up to our email newsletter. You can unsubscribe with one-click at any time.

has donated ! Thank you 🎉
Donate
×