If we’re in an “old city”, we can puzzle over and complain about a narrow road that feels kind of anachronistic.

Some of these roads feel like they weren’t designed to facilitate a Hummer.

And….you know what?

They probably weren’t.

Listen to this guy talk about how cities were designed for different purposes than just moving big cars rapidly through town.

This is pretty eye-opening.

Listen to how the auto industry strong armed us into thinking that these new automobiles were the things that had the right to be in these roads that used to be for people.

It’s hard to imagine the early reaction to these cars that had invaded the city.

People didn’t like these automobiles.

Until the industry changed people’s perception, the automobile wasn’t welcome on these roads that used to be safe to walk on.

That’s strange.

Now, the car is king….and a pedestrian or a bicyclist is an odd sight to see on or around our roads.

This is a great Ted Talk…talking about how good design can influence us to adopt a behavior.

Design.

Make it good….safe….easy…..and more people will want to ride their bikes.

I don’t think that getting rid of cars is possible….or, maybe, even desirable.

We need cars for a lot of things.

We need big trucks to transport things.

We need big trucks to deliver all these bicycles.

But….how do you design a life where the two things….bicycles and cars…..can safely co-exist?

Things can be better….if we had the imagination and the energy to make them better.

Things can be better.