Successful bike and pedestrian planning starts with change leadership

Shape minds to shape streets. Build support and alliances before building bike lanes.

Those were two of the key messages from Gil Penalosa, who works around the world to help cities become safer and more inviting for walking, bicycle riding and taking public transit. Gil, the Executive Director of 8-80 cities and an international planning consultant, gave an inspiring speech on April 4 at the Municipal Art Society in New York.

Example of a bicycle lane 

While he showed the usual collection of design images and people enjoying public spaces, he said the keys to success in this work are as much psychological as they are physical.

To get to the point where you have success stories to share, places need:

• A sense of urgency
• Political will
• Leadership at the community level
• Broad partnerships

The key work of placebuilders, to begin with, is to shape how people think about open spaces, pedestrian areas, and bicycling.  Gil called it "changing the chips," likening the human brain to a computer.

For example, in several of the cities he's worked in, Gil said that skeptics used similar arguments.  The arguments, and usual answers are paraphrased below:

• It's too hot or It's too cold.  (People walk and bike where it is safe and enjoyable to do so, no matter what the weather.)
  
• That's not our culture. (It's not until enough people do it, and then it is.  In Copenhagen, Denmark, where it gets very cold, 38% of residents use bicycles.)
  
• That may work for them, but we're different.  (Individuals are unique, but people are similar around the world.)
  
• In developing countries: Bicycling is for poor people.  In developed countries: Bicycling is for louts in lycra. (where bicycle lanes are safe and useful for people of all ages and incomes, people of all ages and income bike.)
  
• The streets in Europe were designed for pedestrians and bicyclists.  (Actually, most of these pedestrian and bicycling streets were redesigned in the last 30 years.)

These concerns can be addressed and overcome, but they require placebuilders to be engaged in public conversations with a broad array of leaders (not just elected officials), as well as members of the various communities affected by the plans.

Gil did offer some physical design recommendations on activating public spaces and making streets better for pedestrians and bicycle riders.  Among them:

• Design first for pedestrians, then bicyclists, then cars.
• Design public spaces so they are active in bad weather, as well as good.
• Design spaces so they are comfortable, inviting and safe for people 8 years old to 80.   
• Separate pedestrians from bicyclists, and bicyclists from vehicles using dividers. Bike lanes tend to be abused by vehicle drivers, causing some bicyclists to go on sidewalks.
• Turn the lights that illuminate streets towards sidewalks, so pedestrians and bicycle riders can get more light.

Gil's success in cities around the world provides a valuable lesson to those placebuilders who think that change happens first with physical design.  Sustainable design starts with sustainable change leadership.

--Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP

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Image source: "Segregated cycle facilities," Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segregated_cycle_facilities