CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Gehl wisdom

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Gehl wisdom http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Gehl wisdom en Fri, 22 May 2026 00:24:47 +0000 PS on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-282279 Thu, 10 May 2018 14:56:47 +0000 PS 282279@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "If I could give one piece of good advice, it would be based on what we know from Copenhagen. For many years, going back to the 1950s, whenever there was a city planning problem, the traffic engineers were running to the mayor and saying: “Look, we need six more lanes here and three more lanes here and 2,000 parking spaces.” They had the statistics and the arguments ready. On the other hand, there was not a single city in the world that had a department for people and public life. The cities knew everything about traffic and nothing about people, and how and why people use the city. What we have done in Copenhagen is to make the people who use the city visible and to document what is going on: Where people go, how many there are, how long they sit on benches, how many café chairs we have. We do all this every year, just as if we were traffic engineers. Now the politicians have all the information about the life of the city. Then we can ask them to make their choice. The moment you start to get the people visible and city life documented, then you can start to plan and make policies: “Here is where we are, but we want to be here.” That’s what the politicians always have done with car traffic. Now we have tools to be just as systematic in caring for the people." <a href="https://www.citylab.com/design/2018/04/beware-smart-cities/559043/?utm_source=citylab-daily&silverid=MzI3MDkxMDMzMzgzS0">Copenhagen Mastermind Jan Gehl Isn't Sold on 'Smart' Cities</a> chdot on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-89609 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:31:50 +0000 chdot 89609@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Thanks Min. I think I meant 'it's disappointing to realise CEC has planners who reflect typical UK public views on transport and are not embracing the views of an old (now) person whose ideas seem to be making an impact in other parts of the world'. Perhaps part of the problem with Gehl/Edinburgh is the focus on Princes/George. This is why <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=7945&page=3#post-89597">Leith Walk</a> is such a tremendous opportunity and noises so far from 'the council' are on the lines of 'cannae do that, the traders wouldn't like it' (and the car owning public - of all ages - of course). " Dave H (@BCCletts) 02/11/2012 02:33 @allpartycycling In US people drive cars all week and ride bikes for leisure. In CPH Danes ride bikes & relax with car trips at weekends " Not really about 'cars' it's about the priority they are given in urban areas. crowriver on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-89608 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:29:49 +0000 crowriver 89608@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Young people's attitudes are formed by the society around them. So, no surprise they like cars... Min on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-89606 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:13:05 +0000 Min 89606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I think that's what Chdot meant? Instography on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-89600 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 01:59:29 +0000 Instography 89600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "But apparently 'non-progressive transport ideas' are not related to age..." I don't mean to be rude but have you spoken to any young people lately about their views of cars and bicycles? They love cars. chdot on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-89598 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 01:52:01 +0000 chdot 89598@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <a href="http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/sites/default/files/pubs/Cycling-as-Part-of-Urban-Living-Jan-Gehl-Presentation-Oct-2010_0.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/sites/default/files/pubs/Cycling-as-Part-of-Urban-Living-Jan-Gehl-Presentation-Oct-2010_0.pdf</a> chdot on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-88941 Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:19:21 +0000 chdot 88941@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " Landscape Librarian (@landlibrarian) 26/10/2012 20:52 What is Jan Gehl doing in Moscow? The New Yorker finds out: newyorker.com/online/blogs/c… via @fzfr " crowriver on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-88864 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:48:41 +0000 crowriver 88864@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ A simple truth is that CEC (and other councils, government depts.) still employ people who think car - and don't seem to see why they should (enthusiastically/willingly) think about anything else. The 'silent' majority think this way, so why should they be any different or even try? Smacks of complacency at the least, in some cases incompetence or worse. But then I would say that, wouldn't I? chdot on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-88835 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:59:31 +0000 chdot 88835@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "We need to ask why exactly that is." Probably all of those you mention, plus, perhaps, some fear of local press - though that worries politicians more than officials. A simple truth is that CEC (and other councils, government depts.) still employ people who think car - and don't seem to see why they should (enthusiastically/willingly) think about anything else. In the 70s politicians 'encouraged' senior roads people to take early retirement. Politicians now seem less able/willing to influence 'staffing issues'. I recently suggested to someone that surely all the 'old mindset' people must be about to retire. But apparently 'non-progressive transport ideas' are not related to age... crowriver on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-88834 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:46:23 +0000 crowriver 88834@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Truly, the Council are ignoring advice from the world's top urban designers. We need to ask why exactly that is. Fear of change? Lack of 'ownership' (not 'their' idea; not benefitting them directly)? Lack of cash? Fear of the electoral consequences of implementation? Morningsider on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-88825 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:22:34 +0000 Morningsider 88825@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Jan Gehl's right hand man (David Sim) is a Scot. He is orignially from Linlithgow - although he has lived in Denmark for a while. He's a great speaker, top urban designer and was involved in the work for CEC. Truly, the Council are ignoring advice from the world's top urban designers. chdot on "Gehl wisdom" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8745#post-88801 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:38:29 +0000 chdot 88801@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ " Jonathan Maus (@BikePortland) 25/10/2012 21:15 "Ppl won't change behavior when you compel them to. Ppl change when the context compels them to." -planner, Gehl Architects in Copenhagen " " Jeff Speck (@JeffSpeckAICP) 26/10/2012 02:54 J Gehl: The volume of car traffic almost everywhere is more or less arbitrary, depending on the available transportation infrastructure. " Not sure where the quotes are coming from (or why today) They are from the man/company 'redesigning' cities around the world - to make them more 'liveable' - including by encouraging walking and cycling. CEC commissioned designs for Princes Street. Unfortunately there are officials (and perhaps politicians) still stuck with a car centric mindset. Leith Walk will be the BIG test for Edinburgh.