Author: CoRe Foro Urbano

“It is vital to take space away from cars and give it to bicycles”: Keynote speech by Jan Gehl

• “First of all, politicians need to be capable of imagining the city we want for our children and grandchildren”.
• In 2009, Copenhagen was the first city to state its wish to become the best city for people.
• In 2015, 37-45 % of people in New York City cycled to work, which reduced car traffic.

Mexico City, December 7, 2016.- Laureate architect, Danish Jan Gehl, an expert in sustainable urban planning for large cities such as New York or Sao Paolo, was the keynote speaker on the second day of CoRe ForoUrbano CDMX 2016.

Gehl began by mentioning some noteworthy data: in 2009, Copenhagen was the first city to state its wish to become the best city for people. Gehl highlighted that, before anything else, it is important for politicians and architects to picture what city they want for our children and grandchildren. Therefore, it is important to stress that public policies need to be focused on people and not in technology. “This is the best way to form cities”, he said.

He also mentioned that automobiles have dulled our senses, such as smell, sight and taking in the things around us. For him, a confusion of scale is a very serious matter and has caused cities to grow at rates that mean they can only be travelled by car: “One can enjoy a city more by walking 5km rather than staying inside a car for 60km”, he explained, adding that “the new planning paradigm tries to create inhabitable cities which invite us to live a healthy life, that is, to focus on our health instead of focusing on technological maintenance”.

The quality of big cities can be improved. A good example is Copenhagen, which has spent the past 50 years taking care of its inhabitants. Since 1962, it has focused on improving the conditions for citizens. Streets that back then had high traffic flows are not reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. But this transformation was not immediate. Copenhagen had to undergo four stages, from reducing the dependency on cars to making bicycles popular:

• 1980, first stage: car lanes were closed and rebuilt as pedestrian-only.
• 1980-2000, second stage: parking lots were eliminated, and substituted by public spaces for gatherings, such as cafés and bars.
• 2000-2009, third stage: the city was promoted as a recreation space: “While reinventing healthier cities, it is important to promote a lifestyle in which biking is more fun than being locked in a car and fighting traffic”, he said.
• 2009, fourth stage: establishing cycle lanes as having preference over car lanes, more spaces for pedestrians and a comprehensive strengthening of public transportation. For example, trains now have enough space to transport users’ bicycles.

Gehl mentioned that these stages were systematically recorded by the School of Architecture in Denmark for the information to be used and replicated in other cities. However, Gehl said that “the citizens must take part in the urban design of their cities”.

Today, Copenhagen is considered the most livable city in the world, holding the first global position, followed by Melbourne, Helsinki, Tokyo and Vienna.

Gehl highlighted other success cases; for example, in 2015, between 37-45 % of the people in New York cycled to work, which has reduced car traffic. Another success case is Melbourne, Australia, which has become an example on how to revitalize a city through the implementation of public policies that benefit the people, such as investing in urban furniture which appeals to passers-by.

Gehl finished his keynote speech with an encouraging prospect for Mexico City: “if Tokyo holds the fifth position among the most livable cities, Mexico City has great possibilities”.

First Round Table: Mobility 

• Mobility must be considered from a perspective where there will be over 5 billion vehicles on roads around the world in the near future.
• There are 5.5 million vehicles in Mexico City.
• The young people of today drive less than their parents and grandparents.

Mexico City, December 6, 2016.- The first roundtable of the CoRe Urban Forum CDMX 2016 was led by Camilla Ween and Jan Gehl, with the participation of Laura Ballesteros, Rodrigo Díaz, Edgar Farah, Onésimo Flores, Javier Hidalgo, Michael Kodransky, Andrés Sañudo and Florencia Serrania as panellists to discuss mobility in large cities.  To analyze this challenge in a context where the 21st century comes close to completing its second decade, three topics were discussed: integrate urban development with public transport, which has been neglected in the past; succeed in finding better mobility solutions in terms of quality, especially for large-scale public transport (many boast of using the London or New York subway but it does not have the same reputation in Mexico); and insist on finding alternatives to the use of the car.

The experts argued that Mexico City is not so different compared to other cities, given that its citizens suffer from the same consequences coming from vehicles. They said that fossil fuels are certainly killing people and that a concrete action plan to make the city and planet healthier is sorely needed. Concrete ideas must be found in order for people to live side-by-side in truly beautiful cities.

In her participation, the architect and urban planner, Camilla Ween, highlighted two crucial questions for mobility projects to have a real impact: the proper use of public funds and changing the way people think about being urban residents. “One such example worked in London, in one of the most densely frequented stations. The station was closed several times due to the amount of people using it. What we did was to create a solution outside the station for people to move without needing to use a car, since the subway was insufficient. This led to the Crossrail, a combination of train and subway”.

Ween added that each new mobility project must seek to improve the entire surrounding area, by identifying problems and solving them. This means going out to find areas of opportunity in the zones involved. “More can always be done beyond the scope of the original project. If possible, all the weaknesses of the zone should be identified and fixed: traffic, access to disabled people, allowing foot traffic between two separate neighborhoods, building green areas, and more,” added Ween.

For his intervention, the architect and urban planner, Jan Gehl, expressed his skepticism towards automatic or electric cars and whether these could help improve mobility: “it is estimated that 5 billion vehicles will hit the roads in the near future”.

For Gehl, cars, even those with environmentally friendly technology, are “stupid for the modern man. It is antiquated to use four rubber tires to move while the atmosphere is being affected. In the future, we must walk, ride bicycles and have an ideal transportation system”.

Nevertheless, Gehl did strike an optimistic tone: according to his research, the young people of today drive less than their parents and grandparents. “The antiquated technology of the car has a limited time,” he stated.

As part of the roundtable, Onésimo Flores provided some facts: “the challenge Mexico City faces is context. There are currently 400 vehicles for every 100,000 residents. But between 1980 and 2010, the population of Mexico City grew by 20,000 people, while its conurbation grew by 5 million people, most of whom travel to the city for school or work. In reality, we must consider urban development projects.”

In her contribution, Florencia Serranía, an expert in technological transport solutions, mentioned that mobility is not the same for those living inside Mexico City and those living in its metropolitan area. She said that the implementation of a proper transportation system would cost at least 30 million pesos a year in mobility investments.

According to Laura Ballesteros, an expert in mobility and sustainable transportation, 73% of the federal infrastructure budget goes to cars, which only affect 5.5 million cars. It is thus urgent to ensure better management of transportation means. Ballesteros also provided an optimistic touch: today, 60% of people in Mexico City use public transport, as opposed to just 20% a decade ago.

One of the most worrying aspects of mobility in Mexico City was mentioned by Javier Hidalgo, who said it is important to differentiate active mobility and vehicular mobility. The latter is very alarming, even beyond environmental pollution, as it is a contributing factor to diabetes and obesity due to a sedentary lifestyle.

At CoRe Urban Forum, participants united in stating that public spaces must be inclusive

• Revolucion and Patriotismo streets serve as examples of something that needs to be done when Metrobus starts operating in Paseo de la Reforma.
• National and international speakers agreed on the need to turn public spaces into inclusive zones with the people as their focal point, including the development of the Reforma Corridor.

Mexico City, December 6, 2016.- The second roundtable at CoRe Urban Forum CDMX 2016 approached the theme of public spaces, with Jose Castillo, curator of CoRe Urban Forum, serving as moderator. The panel included Ethan Kent and Camilla van Deur as main speakers, with Tatiana Bilbao, Guillermo Buitano, Fernanda Canales, Aliza Chelminski, Lili Haua, Amy Kaufman, Tanya Muller, Pakiko Paillie Pérez, Belinda Tato and Luis Zamorano, as participants.

At first, participants agreed that, in order for a public space to work flawlessly, it must have proximity to infrastructure and offer access for locals and visitors, essentially being designed for pedestrian use.

Alberto Martínez talked about the need to discuss the city and public spaces as one: “to think how we can keep strengthening the design of public spaces and review the normativity. We suffer from overregulation, which has let public spaces fall by the wayside.  We need an extensive and accurate picture of public spaces”. He used the Reforma Corridor as an example of “the pending goal of connecting different zones. The challenge is a matter of inclusiveness”, he ended.

Camila van Deurs, associate director and team leader with Gehl, mentioned that other cities have struggled with the same problems that the Reforma Corridor is trying to address. “We are trying to have a holistic approach”, she said, adding that “in order to achieve something in the public space, a change needs to happen in the streets. It is a low-cost first step, compared to aspects such as mobility and infrastructure.”

She noted that sharing experiences is crucial, given that cities learn from each other; and pointed out to short-term successes, such as the Times Square transformation Project, since it had a real impact on this important part of Manhattan.

Ethan Kent, Senior VP for PPS, said that his appreciation of cities lies in the great potential they offer. “We are thinking increasingly every day on how to improve cities”, he said, focusing on the fact that public spaces must include everyone. “We need to turn public spaces into places that allow us to bring people from different segments together”, he said.

Kent gave the example that a city needs to have 10 important public spaces with 10 things to do there. He said accomplishing this must be a clear goal and said this model could be met around Reforma.

Architect Tatiana Bilbao said the public spaces of the Reforma Corridor are designed with visitors and local employees in mind but that local residents are not often considered, which must be corrected.  “Public spaces must involve local residents and become an extension of residential spaces,” she said.

During her intervention, Aliza Chelminsky, a representative for the Cuauhtemoc Delegation of Mexico City, stressed that public spaces also involve the social responsibility of private companies. “It is necessary to have neighbors participate and own the space, to feel a shared responsibility,” she stated. “The citizens must bring culture to the public spaces, talk to those around the public spaces”. She finished stating that the responsibility of government, aside from regulating investments, is to provide safety, apply the law and regulate commerce.

Up to this point, all participants in the panel agreed that the public space issue must be an inclusive argument which considers all actors.

Tanya Müller, Mexico City’s Secretary of the Environment, said that the streets around the Reforma Corridor must include everyone: pedestrians, cyclists and cars. She added that this was achieved in the examples of the Revolucion and Patriotismo avenues. She also highlighed what will be necessary once the Metrobus starts operating along Reforma, and that “we need to include everyone in its re-design”. Lili Haua, from the Bosque de Chapultepec trust, as a representative of the area where the Reforma Corridor ends, also agreed.

Architect Belinda Tato stated that the better a public space is, the more democratic it becomes since a better space can better support citizens. She restated that much more remains to be done along the Reforma Corridor, regarding the social aspect rather than architectural design.

Experts in social participation, authorities, private sector representatives and urban development specialists concluded that the Reforma Corridor must be made into a space which is welcoming for visitors, locals, commerce and employees in the area.

MORE CITY, FEWER PARKING SPACES CENTRAL MESSAGE OF CORE FORO URBANO

• 5.5 million cars circulate in Mexico City
• In Mexico City, there is one car per 4 citizens
• Investing in a suitable transportation system would require at least 30 billion pesos a year
• 76% of the federal infrastructure budget is dedicated to automobile infrastructure

Mexico City, December 7, 2016.- As part of the activities in CoRe I Foro Urbano CDMX 2016 which began yesterday, the main statement issued by the participants in the roundtables was “More city and fewer parking spaces”.

There are 5.5 million cars circulating in Mexico City, which is the same as one car per every 4 citizens. Consequently, investing in a suitable transportation system is crucial and would require a yearly investment of at least 30 billion pesos. Nevertheless, 76% of the federal infrastructure budget is currently specifically to the one dedicated to automobiles.

CoRe Foro Urbano is a space where a multidisciplinary group formed by national and international entrepreneurs, academics, citizens, public servants, architects and urban planners gather to discuss the best solutions for the future of Mexico City, which is already overwhelmed in terms of demographics and economy.

To start proceedings, Antonio del Valle Perochena, Chairman of the Board of Grupo Empresarial Kaluz, invited the attendants to see Mexico City from two perspectives, quoting Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”. He suggested that the first vision was a city taken over by traffic jams and stress, and the other is one where there is no need to use a car given that good public services are within 5km of all: “these are the two options we face today for Mexico City”, he finished.

The forum addressed four main themes: Mobility, Public Space, Zoning and a Diverse City and Social Participation and Responsibility. The forum began discussing the first two.

The first roundtable was led by Camila Ween and Jan Gehl, and participating was Laura Ballesteros, Rodrigo Díaz, Edgar Farah, Onésimo Flores, Javier Hidalgo, Michael Kodransky, Ulises Navarro, Andrés Sañudo and Florencia Serrania.

This group focused on mobility inside big cities in general, and on analyzing Mexico City’s particular problems. They concluded that the following themes need to be urgently addressed: integrating urban development with public transportation, which has been laid aside up to the moment; offering more quality mobility options, especially for mass public transportation (many boast about using the London Tube or New York subway, but look down on Mexico’s subway); and searching for options that can substitute the use of cars.

Participants agreed that Mexico City faces similar challenges as other cities, especially given the frightening consequences of excessive car usage on human beings. They stated that fossil fuels are killing people and that an action plan is needed for the city and the planet to become healthier, involving specific ideas to have a chance to live in really beautiful cities.

The second roundtable on Public Spaces was led by Jose Castillo, curator of CoRe Foro Urbano, Mexico City’s Secretary of Environment Tanya Muller, Ethan Kent and Camilla van Deurs, with the participation of Tatiana Bilbao, Guillermo Buitano, Aliza Chelminski, Lili Haua, Belinda Tato, Roberto Remes and Alberto Martinez.

In this panel, participants agreed that public spaces must first and foremost be inclusive, needing to provide space and integration for local residents, visitors, businesses and those  employed in the area.

Finally, architect and urban design expert Jan Gehl, associate founder of Gehl Architects and one of the foremost gurus of urban design, presented his book “Cities for People”. Over the past five decades, Gehl has devoted himself to reinventing cities so as to integrate the new needs of modern societies. His participation has been decisive in the urban re-design of cities such as Copenhagen, New York, Moscow, Sao Paulo and Singapore.

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About CoRe Foro Urbano

The forum is formed by a group of citizens (entrepreneurs, academics, citizens, public servants, architects and urban planners), with a vision of the future of Mexico City, and convinced of the great potential that our City has. Today we are going through a historic moment in which we can redefine the future, with a view to a city that maximizes all its potentials and is redefined by seeking quality of life for its citizens and its visitors. We seek to make city through four fundamental themes in order to create awareness and consensus and have the city that we all want.

Press contact

Francisco Galindo/ Pedro Suarez and Gerson Hernández

fgalindo@zimat.com.mx

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