Meet the cities empowering local people to build the future
A city without people is little more than a landscape filled with a collection of buildings. It is people that give cities their vibrancy and character. And yet, too often, city authorities are not mindful to involve local residents in their plans.
Thankfully, there is a growing realization that this is not sustainable. People must be at the very heart of the cities they live in. And so in some cities, people are being empowered to build the future of the place they call home. Here are five great examples:
- Design a crosswalk/ zebra crossing
Yes, some call it a crosswalk, others a zebra crossing — But we all know what it is! Indeed, city authorities have frequently re-designed these crossings in order to promote a specific cause or message. However, Seattle is perhaps one of the only cities encouraging local people to take on crossing re-designs themselves, to get their creative juices flowing on a regular basis. On a practical level, an eye-catching crossing is a great way to increase visibility and road safety. On a societal level, it encourages local people to take ownership over their neighborhood, to increase community pride.
- More bike racks = Less traffic
It is no secret that getting more people out of fuel-guzzling cars and onto bikes is a good thing for a city. It reduces congestion and carbon footprint, while increasing air quality and healthy living. But how can more people be encouraged to swap four wheels for two? One answer is to make it easier for people to safely lock their bikes across the city. So, some city authorities have installed increasingly creative and attractive bike racks — Check out some great examples here, especially the effort from Malmo in Sweden, which quite literally replaces a car with bikes!
- Free trees!
Long gone are the days when cities aspired to be something of a concrete jungle, filled with anonymous sky-rises and similar structures. Grey is rapidly being replaced by green. But with space typically limited, the opportunities for new parks and fields are sparse. Nonetheless, there is still plenty that can be done to enhance the green space of a city. One initiative being taken up by many city authorities is offering residents free trees to plant and nurture themselves. In doing so, they are placing the city’s lungs in the hands of the people. Local residents are being encouraged to plant trees in Los Angeles, Baltimore, London, Brisbane and elsewhere — Quite literally across the world!
- Volunteering: Everyone’s a winner!
When people volunteer their time to the community, they aren’t just providing a service. They are making a hugely important statement, that they view themselves as part of something bigger than themselves and that the future of their city matters. But volunteering is not just a powerful statement, it is an act from which everyone benefits — Research has shown that not only does the community benefit, but there are also significant mental health advantages for individual volunteers. Unsurprisingly, city councils and municipalities across the globe are keen to encourage volunteering. Anything from preserving local history, to conservation to staffing libraries and other public spaces.
- It isn’t just talk. Conversations mean change.
Occasionally, talking really is doing. In fact, the act of talking to your neighbour or the person next to you on the train, is not only a way of connecting with other residents. It really can help to solve problems in the community. That is why the City of Charlotte in North Carolina asked 150 employees to take 10 minutes each week to engage one person in conversation about how to make Charlotte better. They found out plenty about the economy, environment, local transportation, housing, education and a whole lot more. Take a look here for the extensive results.
