Articulo: 10 Principles for Transport in Urban Life

(New York, JUNE 24th, 2010)

Visionary urbanist Jan Gehl and Walter Hook, Executive Director of the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), have together set out ten keys to creating more sustainable cities in a new publication: "Our Cities Ourselves: 10 Principles for Transport in Urban Life", shows how cities from New York to Nairobi can meet the challenges of rapid population growth and climate change while improving their competitiveness. 

What are the ten principles of sustainable transport?

1. Walk the walk: Create great pedestrian environments.
2. Powered by people: Create a great environment for bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles.
3. Get on the bus: Provide great, cost-effective public transport.
4. Cruise control: Provide access for clean passenger vehicles at safe speeds and in significantly reduced numbers.
5. Deliver the goods: Service the city in the cleanest and safest manner.
6. Mix it up: Mix people and activities, buildings and spaces.
7. Fill it in: Build dense, people and transit oriented urban districts that are desirable.
8. Get real: Preserve and enhance the local, natural, cultural, social and historical assets.
9. Connect the blocks: Make walking trips more direct, interesting and productive with small-size, permeable buildings and blocks.
10. Make it last: Build for the long term. Sustainable cities bridge generations. They are memorable, malleable, built from quality materials, and well maintained.

If you want to read the complete article, click the link below

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/our-cities-ourselves-10-principles-for-transport-in-urban-life-97059599.html

Interview: “Count people, not cars”

Lars Gemzoe, Senior Consultant and Associate Partner at Gehl Architects visited Chennai in early December for a three-day workshop on Public Space Public Life surveys. Kumar Manish, Communications Officer at ITDP India, caught up with Gemzoe for a tête-à-tête. 

Lars Gemzoe in Chennai

KM: What are the main challenges for growing cities in India?

LG: Providing quality public spaces remains a critical issue in India. India’s mega cities need facilities not only for necessary activities (like commuting and shopping), but also for optional activities (like leisure walking, people-watching, and talking to friends). 

KM: Counting people, not counting cars—does this kind of survey work?

LG: City surveys need to be humane and innovative in their approach.  People are invisible in planning process of most cities. There are lots of data available on vehicular traffic, noise levels, pollution, and speed, but no data on pedestrians. The Public Space Public Life survey focuses on people moving by foot.

KM: What is the role of political leadership in building a livable city?

LG: Political leadership builds up a certain momentum for public causes and is highly necessary to bring a paradigm shift in the use of public space. You need political will, greater understanding among the public, and people in planning process or officials in administration for bringing positive changes in the city.

KM: Is there a need to sensitize urban planners and architects?
LG: Architects and planners rely on data to carry out their work. There is a direct link between available data and people’s perspectives. Good quality data can change the terms of the discussion and create a mandate for good design.

KM: Can public space become a brand for a city?
 

LG: Public space has both image and visual appeal. People space can be a brand for a city. See the example of Barcelona: each public space is a unique one and the authorities keep on trying new things. Public spaces are also a symbol of equality and inclusiveness.
 

KM: How was your experience in Chennai?
 

LG: Chennai is an extremely friendly city, amazing and full of colors. You walk around and take photos easily while in many countries you have to be very careful about taking pictures. Here if you give people a smile they smile back.

Lars Gemzoe


 Link directo:

 http://www.itdp.org/index.php/news/detail/count_people_not_cars_says_lars_gemzoe/

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Article: Sidewalks Key Factor Influencing Physical Activity

A new study provides further evidence that incorporating sidewalks into existing neighborhoods is a practical and inexpensive way of encouraging people to exercise.

"No matter which country you are in, new research finds those who live in a city neighborhood are twice as likely to be physically active the those in the suburbs. According to a San Diego State University study published in this month’s American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the main factor influencing physical activity around the world is accessibility to sidewalks.

Researchers looked at data from 11,541 survey participants in 11 countries, which included the United States, Lithuania, Brazil, Sweden and Japan. Those individuals who reported living in a city neighborhood with easy access to sidewalks were 15-50 percent more likely to get moderate-to vigorous activity at least five days a week for at least 30 minutes each day.

SDSU professor and lead author Jim Sallis said this is likely because sidewalks can be used for recreation like jogging and in-line skating as well as for transportation, in lieu of using a car or other means of transportation.

"Even in this group of culturally diverse countries, this one factor held consistent," Sallis said. "Many of these activity-friendly neighborhoods also had residential living within a close 10-15 minute walk to recreation facilities, shopping or mass transit stops."

To read full story:  http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=71384