Elephant in the room. informal. An obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. The challenge This year has been very prolific in terms of the discussions about how to face the most pressing urban challenges. Despite all the clear messages, we haven’t seen a lot of action and I … More Elephant in the Room
On May 6, 2019, I had the honour of being one of the four speakers in the City Symposium Series – Sustainable Cities and Communities. It was a great experience where I had the opportunity to connect with many like-minded people. My 12-minute presentation sparked a lot of interest, maybe not as much as the … More Shift Happens! – A corporate story
On May 6, 2019, I had the honour of being one of the four speakers in the City Symposium Series – Sustainable Cities and Communities. It was a great experience where I had the opportunity to connect with many like-minded people. My 12-minute presentation sparked a lot of interest, maybe not as much as the presentation from … More Shift Happens! – An individual story
We are full swing into biking season. May 27th was National Bike-to-Work Day and June 10th was Cycle Commuter Day here in London, Ontario. In the wake of bike-to-work initiatives throughout the country (and beyond), I want to bring some attention to the relevance of such events. Bike-to-work initiatives go beyond merely promoting healthier choices … More Bike-to-Work Day as a Multipurpose Tool
The importance of bike lanes Adequate road infrastructure is a key element in fostering healthier and more inclusive modes of transportation. More and more studies have shown that the association between cycling infrastructure and ridership tends to be positive. Add to that the fact that those urban amenities – like shared bike lanes, cycle tracks and … More Will the cyclists come only if you build?: Beyond Infrastructure
For a few decades, we have been observing and describing the shift in our lifestyles where our social circles are getting smaller and smaller. The following metaphor describes this social phenomenon in a very vivid way. “A healthy social network looks like the root mass of a tree. From the most important relationships at the heart of … More Social life as tree roots
My stay in San Francisco was short but very prolific. I had the opportunity to explore the city in some of the best ways possible, by foot and by bike. And to enjoy the company of Chris Carlsson, a wealth of knowledge about San Francisco and its history. Not only that, but I had the … More Shaping Cities, tips from SanFran
Urban literacy promotes the ability to read, interpret, design and shape urban spaces. An essential skill in today’s world. Watch this space can be an interesting starter kit for those who are willing to explore more about all this. It’s a Little book published in 2010, written by Hadley Dyer and illustrated by Marc Ngui. Yes, it’s … More Watch this Space
As a child, Tim Gill’s daughter – one of the UK’s biggest voices when it comes to childhood – enjoyed spending some time at the nursery backyard where a few trees quickly became a “forest” in that little girl’s eyes. The example serves to illustrate an idea that Gill strongly advocates: bringing children closer to … More Children in public spaces activate communities
Luis Patricio 