The problems that the Betalingsring is trying to solve originate not in our city centre but in our suburbs, we need to improve the quality of the town centers that comprise Copenhagen metropolitan region ensuring they are walkable, bike-able and provide everyday amenities.  We need to improve connections and accessibility between these town centers and into the centre of Copenhagen.  We need broad investment in a variety of transit options from car-sharing to public transit to ensure high quality alternatives and most importantly we need to consider the suburbs and promote medium density and quality housing.  We want a city that works in the center and at the edges.

The current discourse about the congestion charge (betalingsring) in Copenhagen has focused on the political differences between left leading urbanites and more conservative car owners.  We aim to shift the discussion from mere political grandstanding to what ought to be the key question; how do we achieve good quality of life for all Copenhageners, a question which we all need to take seriously and responsibility for achieving. Improving quality of life and making a better city for our shared future is about more than charging motorists to drive into the centre. It should be visionary, ambitious and holistic in approach. However as with any problem – before we presume to propose solutions we must carefully take measure and assess where exactly the problems lie?

Some of the key ingredients of a good town centre

Besides being poorly named and branded, the betalingsring, (which roughly translates as payment ring) where the current political discourse is centrifugally focused – has also narrowed the view of the problem to within the confines of the city centre of Copenhagen. This is actually the inverse of where we believe the problems originate. The relative lack of quality and offer in the town centres that stretch along Copenhagen’s pioneering finger plan; the quality of other transit options (besides private vehicle) that connect the center to its suburbs and the absence of public transit connections between the suburbs, we believe go some-way to describing the transit and spatial problem. Mobility choices are multi-dimensional and people’s preferences complex so we need to investigate the wider view that encompass  social preferences that influence human choice; Why do we have so many people driving into the centre, and also why do we have so many driving within localities in the suburbs. Because they can? Because they have to? Because they like to? We need to find out if anything is to change. The Danish Society of Engineers have come out to say that amongst experts only 4 out of 10 believe that the betalingsring will work as hoped. Infrastructure and technology to develop safe cities, low-carbon transit solutions, green energy alternatives and other sustainable initiatives can only succeed if people choose to use it, or in the case of betalingsring, it effects change as predicted. Establishing a bike-share program is only sustainable if cyclists use it. Investing in public transport is only worthwhile if it is comfortable and convenient.  Implementing urban elements to promote safety will only be effective if people behave the way we predict they will. Behavioral understanding is central in the design of any potentially successful interventions.

Ways to add quality to the design of town centres

Just as we have made our city centre walkable, bike-able and attractive – this should be applied more widely creating towns that provide everyday amenities.   In our experience with working in transit hubs in both Gothenburg and Skåne, improving  the quality within 1km of the transit hubs including park and ride schemes, reliable wifi connections that support working while commuting and other initiatives that improve convenience can greatly increase the attractiveness of public transport and really affect people’s transit choices. The London congestion charge scheme generated £930 million of revenue between 2003-2007 but such are the operating costs, only 30% of that was re-invested into public transport.  We need efficient investment, from a mixture of public and private investors as well as from social entrepreneurs to invite alternatives in a variety of transit forms from community car-pools and commercial car clubs to increased reliability on existing rail lines.  Finally and most importantly we need to consider the suburbs’ configuration and promote medium density and quality housing as well as educating consumers about the costs and conveniences of different housing choices.  We want a city with attractive suburban hubs that complement the centre.

In defining what kind of city we want, Gehl Architects argue that a congestion charge alone can’t provide what growing families; ambitious professionals, ageing seniors – people who live in small apartments in the centre or have a house and car in the suburbs- most desire from their city. A safe, healthy, vibrant, attractive, accessible, and ultimately sustainable city.  The answer to this ambitious vision lies both in a holistic and comprehensive regional view as well as the technical details of any scheme for charging motorists in Copenhagen City Centre.

I attended the American Community Gardening Association conference in August 2011 part of which was a visit to the neighbourhoods of the South Bronx borough, one of the poorest districts in the state of New York. Initiatives here offer people living locally the opportunity to participate in gardening programmes. The schemes operate by asking for a  modest contribution of money for which in return they get the opportunity to garden, and take a share of the bountiful harvest. The lack of recreational areas and nutritional problems are endemic in parts of The Bronx borough and this initiative seems to offer a really efficient contribution to a future remedy. In addition the community gardens place a focus on farmers markets – growing crops in the community for the residents with a wider distribution than just those directly involved. During the growing season there is a farmers market every week which draws people into the garden, and whenever there is a participant around the garden is fully open giving other locals and in particular, children the opportunity to see how vegetables and fruits grow in the calm surrounds of these city oases.

Community garden in Bronx placed close beside the railroad

Kids playing in the community garden and watering small plant.

Farmers market in one of the many community gardens in the Bronx

You can read Kristian’s original article in Danish in the physical magazine – read more here

For more check out the documentary Grown in Detroit: 

Currently UN Habitat is preparing a Global Report on Strategy for Urban Mobility,scheduled for release in autumn 2012.

The UNECE was set up in 1947 by The Economic and Social Council. It is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations. UN habitat was established in 1978 and has its headquarters at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya. It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.

Gehl Architects is delighted  to contribute to a trans-global discussion about the future of cities in collaboration with UN Habitat and with the UNECE

Helle Søholt, CEO, Gehl Architects, gave a keynote address at the 2011 PEP Symposium in Geneva. Ulrik Nielsen, Associate Gehl Architects, participated as Expert Contributor to the upcoming Global Report on Strategies for Urban Mobility.

]]> http://gehlcitiesforpeople.dk/2012/01/18/collaborative-with-the-un/feed/ 0 ulriksylvestnielsen Ulrik_Helle http://gehlcitiesforpeople.dk/2012/01/17/picture-of-the-week-7/ http://gehlcitiesforpeople.dk/2012/01/17/picture-of-the-week-7/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:40:48 +0000 Jo Posselt http://gehlcitiesforpeople.dk/?p=2474 Read More

This weeks photo is from Patricia Brown, a friend and colleague. She was a key enabler for our “Toward a Fine City for People” report published in 2004.  Patricia continues to do vital work improving the quality of the built environment in London.

Photo; Patricia Brown, Hunter's Point Hammock, New York.

Hunter’s Point Park is just one of the number of parks recentley reclaimed along New York City’s waterfront.  These new spaces provide New Yorkers with places to walk, run, play – or to just relax and watch the world go by.

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Photo; Lars Gemzøe

Most of the new public spaces in the City of Copenhagen are focusing on physical activity. One of the latest upgrades is in the Haraldsgade area, where new cycle tracks placed along side public physical activity areas.

One of the main players in the new urban space : Centre for Sports and Architecture at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation

If you have a picture you have taken to contribute, please send it to me, jo@gehlarchitects.dk. You can read more here

Photo: Bruce Chan, cicLAvia

The first picture of the year is from Bruce Chan a planner/architect, and cyclist in Los Angeles.  His blog captures a lesser known side of LA. In his own words; “Most people – especially Americans – have a negative view of LA.  They complain about the traffic, the fake people, ‘hollywood’, sprawl, etc. But i’ve come to love the city.  Part of the reason is my dedication to biking through the city, and really experiencing all the activities – mostly free and public .” This photo is from cicLAvia – a recurrent event that temporarily removes cars from L.A. streets.

Keep sending your wonderful photos, celebrating cities and people. You can read more here

We have continued our collaboration with the Energy Foundation designing sustainable cities, thriving neighborhoods and non motorized mobility networks for major Chinese cities. We have conducted Public Space Public Life surveys in such exiting and different cities as Istanbul in collaboration with Embarq and in Adelaide for the City of Adelaide. We continue to focus on delivering great streets and public spaces for all and have been engaged as urban design leads in both Market street, San Francisco and in Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. We have challenged ourselves in capacity building initiatives in new cultures such as India, Brazil and Colombia in partnership with ITDP from N.Y. and have engaged ourselves in designing new urban settlements in both Zambia in collaboration with Arup Zimbabwe and in Australia for Mirvac. We have strengthened our base in Scandinavia through hosting the Nordic City Network secretariat and through working with cities like Linköping and Lund, and through continuing our strong collaboration with Riksbyggen leading to 1^st prize for the Nya Munkebäck development. We have facilitated workshops and professional meetings such as the major international Rivercity workshop in Gothenburgh. And in Norway, we have developed an innovative new way of mental planning for Groruddalen and Breivoll engaged by and in strong collaboration with the City of Oslo.

We have hosted 8 international interns through the year, and have hosted professional individuals and groups for shorter and longer stays as part of our ambition to be an open and urban platform for exchange and innovation and to provide leadership in urban planning.

We are looking forward to continue our collaboration with you in the new year and thank you for a great 2011

We thank Björn Olsson for letting us use this song ‘Göteborg’ , Rune Mielonen Grassov for post-production and last by not least David Byrne for being a great tour guide.

Happy Holidays from Gehl Architects

Make sure you have sound.

Photo: Peter van der Veer

The weeks photo is by Peter van der Veer a teacher who lives in Melbourne. In his own words:

Forty years ago Melbourne’s city centre was just a work place that was suddenly deserted soon after five pm on weekdays and throughout weekends. Virtually no-one lived in the city then. Home was the suburbs where lives were solitary. Today, many people live, work, study and relax in the city and socially enjoy it too every day of the week. I am one of the many who, before going home from teaching, come here, meet friends, and join the conviviality before heading home.
Even when alone, I love being among the social life and wish to keep it with me – so take photographs with a camera or my phone.

Gehl Architects Comment: Peter isn’t the only one with this point of view.  In 2011, The Economist named Melbourne the most livable city in the world.  See more about our involvement in the transformation here.

Keep sending me your wonderful photos. Read more here.

Sponsored by the City of Vancouver, the two-day working session allowed local decision makers to utilize international best practice

Partner and CEO Helle Søholt was invited by Vancouver City to participate in a 2 day working session on the future strategy for the city’s Eastern Core including considerations for removal or partial removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts.

Like Boston many years earlier, and taking a more recent cue from Seattle and Oslo, Vancouver  is engaged in public dialogue to consider removing these highway barriers of the 60′s.  City officials are aware of the value, economically, socially, culturally and economically of prioritizing people rather than cars in prime sites. This is great news!

In Oslo they are one step ahead, taking down Bispelokket as of this moment, forever changing their city for the better by reconnecting citizens to the water.

Left: The Elevated highway cutting through Boston's central business district. Right: How the area looks today after the Rose Kennedy Greenway replaced the highway.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway at eyelevel

In other cases working with the barriers might be the solution. Life has returned to the area under the 36 arches of the railway viaduct in Zürich West. Controlled use of signage, high quality shops, simplicity, transparency and openness as well as a sensitivity to the historic structure and industrial surrounds have created a really special new place in Zurich.

Helle recommended Vancouver city to stay true to their values as an innovative city region.  Emphasizing the need for a value based transformation rather than a simple ‘plan’, Helle gave insight into how the City can ensure a dynamic design process to best take advantage of this opportunity in the face of great economic uncertainty. Helle focused on inviting for diverse uses and users to the sites in the future Eastern core, enabling the existing neighborhoods to re-connect to each other and the water front after the infrastructure is removed.