Electric scooters, used in major cities around the world as an urban mobility alternative, have been available to São Paulo residents on the capital's bike lanes since the beginning of this month. On August 11 and 12, two mobility startups presented their service options for the vehicles.

By the end of 2018, at least five cities in Germany could test a model approach to combating pollution. The trial will discourage private vehicle use while offering free public transit—a solution currently adopted in only a few places.

Bonn, Essen, Herrenberg, Reutlingen, and Mannheim are the German cities included in the proposal drafted by the federal government. “We are considering making public transport free of charge to reduce the number of private cars,” German ministers stated in a letter sent to the European Commission. “Fighting air pollution effectively without unnecessary delays is of the highest priority for Germany,” the document adds. 

The millions of cars, trucks, and buses on São Paulo's roads account for over 90% of all air pollution. With residents spending up to five hours a day commuting, the metropolis is constantly gridlocked. To address this, What Design Can Do and the IKEA Foundation are calling on creative professionals from around the world to develop radical, innovative solutions for more sustainable flows of people and goods in the city.

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An Italian architect is proposing a new model of housing that, unlike the traditional residences, does not consist of a settled building, but in a folding and transportable house. It can be assembled in just six hours with the help of three people.