How much space are we giving away to cars? / ¿Cuánto espacio le hemos cedido a los autos?

Nothing better than pictures to realize how much space are we giving away to cars.

A bit ridiculous to drive by yourself in a car if you have other options, isn’t it?

And wouldn’t it be nice to just be able to walk around the city freely?

It’s a bit scary sometimes with so many cars.
Karl Jilg/Swedish Road Administration

Check more on how much space cars take vs. bikes or buses here and how much of the city goes to serve those cars here.

Ciclovida: organización que promueve el uso de la bicicleta

Ciclovida surge con el firme propósito de ayudar a los demás. Promover y apoyar políticas de movilidad urbana.

Porque la bicicleta es el transporte que contribuye a lograr una ciudad limpia, a reducir la contaminación, a descomprimir el tránsito vehicular.

Promovemos algo mas que andar en bicicleta, investigamos, asesoramos, diseñamos e implementamos acciones para lograr cambios culturales que integren la bicicleta como un medio de transporte más.

Nuestra aspiración armar es mecanismos y proyectos desde el poder civil que permitan desarrollar políticas publicas enfocadas en la transformación de comportamientos en la cultura ciudadana.

Ciclovida es un espacio de reflexión e intercambio sobre como movernos mejor, ser punto de encuentro para aquellos que utilizan sus bicicletas para trasladarse todos los días a centros de estudio o trabajo en la ciudad, o usen las bicis para recreación o deporte.

En Ciclovida queremos que la gente recupere la sensación de libertad, que establezca una relación directa y vívida con el paisaje cotidiano…es decir, reconquistar la “escala humana” de la ciudad.

(Material de Gustavo Izús, por Ciclovida)

And back to farming in the city: an example from the United States

They did it big time! Complete self-reliance in Los Angeles. See how they did it:

Bikes instead of cars in urban centers / Bicicletas en vez de autos en centros urbanos

Because a video and actual examples are worth a thousand words:




Video in English con subtítulos en español

A couple of points about cars and traffic...

First, we need to recognize we are all part of the problem:

 

Second, we have to stop nonsensical behavior:

And then, we just have to switch to smarter, kinder behaviors... (more on that later)

Wasn't that easy?

Cityscapes: why a megalopolis is, by definition, not pretty

I feel vindicated.

I’m reading Michael C. Boxall’s latest thriller “The GreatFirewall.” The action is taking place in Shanghai when I read the following comment about subways: “[Shanghai’s] subway didn’t smell like [a heady blend of vanilla, balsam and ambergris]. But neither did it have the roachy fetor  of New York, [...]”

My first thought: Thank you!

Since I commented on my not-love for NY, people have been jumping about how is that even possible, eeeeeverybody loves NY, because NY is sooo great. Apparently not linking NY is akin to not liking Paris. A cultural faux pas.

My take on the whole issue? People don’t really look at famous places for what they are, but for what they represent.

NY, NY. Second Take: The (Mostly) Bad

NY is not an easy-going city. You don't just drop-by on NY. To visit her, you need to plan, organize, coordinate. We didn't, and suffered the consequences.

Had to get NY's metro system like the palm of my hand

All in all I was seriously underwhelmed by the big, bright apple. This might be anathema to many; certainly it is to the eight million people living there who tend to be hard core about the greatness of the city. But surprisingly it is also the case for many non-NYorkers who swear to love NY. 'How can you not?' was the accusatory response I got after I posted the 'underwhelmed' remark on Facebook.

I blame it on having missed out on everything.

Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, a recommendation by two very different sources and conveniently within walking distance from our apartment, had just held its last event for the summer and was basically closed for the season. You could still wander around -which we did, plenty, as we got lost-, but completely empty it was slightly heavier on the spooky side than on the relaxing one.

New York, New York!

Ahoy maties!

We've been in New York city for a number of days having arrived on Monday. We'll be here till Friday when we head down to Baltimore to visit some friends. And we have yet to take a day to sit and relax in one spot: we've been walking all over the place to see as much as we can of New York.