Channel: Freethink

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: city streetsuser-generated urbanismcitiesurbanismwalkable citieshow cities are builtcity girdpublic transportation

Description: We’re using our streets all wrong | Ewa Westermark | Gehl Subscribe to Freethink on YouTube ►► freeth.ink/youtube-subscribe Up next ►► Do buildings have to be permanent? | Hard Reset youtu.be/ItCToQSSdhQ The rise of the private automobile in American life and culture has dramatically changed how cities were designed, John Frazer, a mobility futurist, wrote for Forbes. Emerging from World War II, automakers became economic powerhouses, employing workers who suddenly could afford their own cars — rumbling manifestations of the freedom of the American Dream. Cities were designed around that dream. Frazer quotes University of Houston historian Martin Melosi, who said that roughly half of the space in American cities has been given over to roads, parking lots, parking spots, gas stations, traffic signals, and other things pertaining to cars. And at the same time, space for other forms of transportation — like sidewalks — were squeezed out. Even the sidewalks themselves are designed to resist change; large concrete slabs, they don’t lend themselves to being changed around. Making an infrastructure change can cost millions, a price many cities won’t or can’t pay. But maybe we can take those spaces back; they are public spaces, after all. We could hard reset, and make streets a place for user-generated urbanism. Read the full story here ►►freethink.com/series/hard-reset/user-generated-urbanism ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Read more of our stories on urbanism of the future: Reclaiming city spaces with “tactical urbanism” ►► freethink.com/environment/tactical-urbanism Smart traffic lights ease congestion on city streets ►► freethink.com/technology/smart-traffic-lights Are ancient city grids still the best way to build? ►► freethink.com/culture/city-grids ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ About Freethink No politics, no gossip, no cynics. At Freethink, we believe the daily news should inspire people to build a better world. While most media is fueled by toxic politics and negativity, we focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future. ◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡◡ Watch our original series: ► Hard Reset: freeth.ink/youtube-hard-reset ► Just Might Work: freeth.ink/youtube-just-might-work ► Challengers: freeth.ink/youtube-challengers Enjoy Freethink on your favorite platforms: ► Daily editorial features: freethink.com​ ► Solutions-based stories, straight to your inbox: freethink.com/subscribe ► Facebook: facebook.com/freethinkmedia​ ► Instagram: instagram.com/freethink​ ► Twitter: twitter.com/freethinkmedia​ ► Join the Freethink forum: facebook.com/groups/freethinkforum