Full Description
In Equality and the City, Enrique Peñalosa Londoño draws on his experience as mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, as well as his many years of international work as a lecturer and consultant, to share his perspective on the issues facing developing cities, especially sustainable transportation and equal access to public space.
As mayor of Bogotá, Peñalosa Londoño initiated development of the TransMilenio Rapid Bus Transit system, among the largest and most comprehensive public transit systems in the Global South, which carries 2.5 million passengers a day along dedicated bus lanes, bike paths, and a rapid metro line. The system emphasizes accessibility for the entire population. Peñalosa Londoño's efforts to create public space were similarly ambitious: over the course of his two terms, more than a thousand public parks were created or improved. Underlying these policies was a conviction of how cities should be—a compelling humanistic philosophy of sustainable urbanism. For Peñalosa Londoño, city design is not just engineering; it defines human happiness, dignity, and equality. "An advanced city is not one where the poor own a car," Peñalosa writes, "but one where the rich use public transport."
Equality and the City provides practical criteria for conceiving and constructing different and better cities, describes the obstacles that are confronted when doing so, and identifies ways to overcome them.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1. The City Is a Crucial Competitive Advantage, or Disadvantage
Chapter 2. How to Use Land More Democratically
Chapter 3. Urban Demolition and Redevelopment
Chapter 4. City Life: Better Than the Suburbs
Chapter 5. The Challenge of Urban Transport
Chapter 6. Choosing a Mass Transit System
Chapter 7. The Car: A Trojan Horse
Chapter 8. The Right to Bike Without Risking One's Life
Chapter 9. Pedestrian Public Space Is the Most Important Part of Our City
Chapter 10. Malls, Commerce, and Safety
Chapter 11. Waterfronts for People's Enjoyment
Chapter 12. Parks Are Critical for a Democratic City ##
Conclusion
Notes
Index
