PUBLIC SPACES

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MEETING, MOVING,

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by Dyan Ptzenmeier Gehl cited several recongured cities, including Copenhagen, Barcelona, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Portland. In realizing the importance of public life, city planners and policy makers must be willing to put constraints on vehicular trafc and increase the emphasis on environmentally-friendly modes of transport. Copenhagen has become increasingly more bikefriendly for people from ages 5 to By putting people at the forefront 85, and bicyclists have increased 100 in the planning process, Jan Gehl of percent from 1990 to 2004 with backGehl Architects in Copenhagen leads ups available in city bike racks. More revolutionary work all over the globe to people are walking and biking with 36% create lively and healthy public realms. commuting to work on bicycles. As a All cities have trafc departments with result of this concerted effort to revive perfect statistics: cars are a highly visible public life, more people are spending Bicyclers with commuters in Copenhagen (above) and ever present part of the planning Swanston Street in Melbourne showing increase time in the city and the economy is process. What city has a department for of pedestrian trafc from 1992 (middle) to 2004 more lively. pedestrians and public life and the related (bottom) Photos: Courtesy of Gehl Architects Gehl invites people to think differently statistics about how people use the city? and humanize our cities. London With a sense of urgency, Gehl proposes reduced congestion by charging a fee for a public life policy to make people the vehicles to enter the city beginning in core of the planning process. Multiple 2003. In towns like Trondheim, Norway dimensions frame the policies: has constructed escalators to transport 1. Transportation: Affords a simple, bikes in steep areas. Lyon deliberately cost-effective, and healthy mode made it cheaper to park underground. of transport through emphasizing Closer to home, Portland increased walking and promoting safety all public transit with its two light rail through the day and night. lines, a streetcar system, and 750 miles 2. Work: Brings jobs and ready access to of bicycle paths as part of its strategy employment while boosting to deal with climate change and curb local commerce. carbon emissions. 3. Sustainable environment: Conserves Some 25 years ago Melbourne was an resources, lowers vehicular emissions, empty useless city center. Gehl began and contributes to the health of studying it in 1994 to gradually help lay the environment. the groundwork for a modern urban 4. Health: Extends life spans and center that honors civic life. Residences improves mental and physical increased from 1,000 to 10,000 in well being. ten years; students increased by 67%; and streets became 5. Recreation: Offers pleasure, appeal, and a healthy life style. more inviting with wide sidewalks, benches, and public art to 6. Social relations: Engages people with each other as cities welcome people. emerge as meeting places. 7. Education and culture: Draws upon our experience in Gehl is not the rst to suggest a bold move in Seattle: Take human relationships in an evolving culture. down the viaduct and let the city and water breathe together. He went on to say that San Francisco replaced its Embarcadero 8. Democracy: Provides a public realm for all to see in an Freeway, damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, with open society. streetcars. 9. Safety and friendship: Makes the public realm welcoming and lively. In citing an old Icelandic saying, Man is mans greatest joy, 10. Fun, joy, and surprises: Makes you wonder and smile and Gehl stressed the idea that our deepest interest in life is pays homage to the importance of other people in our lives. each other. When Jan Gehl, the Master of Public Spaces, spoke at the Urban Sustainability 2005 Forum, he challenged Mayor Nickels to remake Seattle into one of the worlds most livable cities. In exchange, Gehl would reserve six pages in his upcoming book to tell the story of how Seattle gave the city back to its people. But rst there is some work to be done.
Dyan Ptzenmeier, Firey Inc, is a marketing and communication consultant in Seattle (rey-inc@hotmail.com).

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY 2005 FORUM is sponsored by the City of Seattle, BetterBricks, and Urban Land Institute Seattle.