Green thinking in cities, Part 5: New York City
While New York City still has problems in some areas that appear to conflict with their progressive plans in others, I’m still including it in this series. With the likes of architect Jan Gehl and DOT Commissioner Janet Sadik-Khan (who was here in 2009) in its arsenal, NYC has started changing the structure of its streets.
Sections of streets have been transformed, if only in trials, into space for cafes and public seating, dramatically changing the look and purpose, and allowing people to linger and rest. Car-free programs abound. They launched a car-sharing program with Zipcar and are looking at a high-tech bike share network. They’re also turning parking meters into bike racks.
Resident Ben Flanner is among others growing rooftop vegetables and I wrote recently about Brooklyn’s Habana Outpost. And finally, Give a Minute: a civic engagement website fielding the public’s ideas on how to green the city. (Sounds like Vancouver’s, eh?)
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Note: I am writing solely on my own behalf, and do not claim to represent the David Suzuki Foundation or its views here.
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