Cities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around

Fellow bike nerds, read this slowly, lest you begin hyperventilating. The only thing that could make it better is if Secretary Chu and Jessica Alba showed up too.

On December 8, the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) will bring together civic and business leaders, policymakers, and administration officials for a conversation about practical and imaginative ways to promote alternative forms of transportation. The event will launch Cities for Cycling, a NACTO project to break down barriers to bicycle-friendly street design in municipalities around the United States

Joining the program will be the co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.); New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan; and artist/musician David Byrne, former Talking Heads front man and long-time cycling advocate. Byrne is also the author of Bicycle Diaries (Viking, 2009), which chronicles his bike travels through some of the world’s major cities. His view from the bicycle seat inspired musings on politics, history, the urban landscape, fashion, architecture, globalization, as well as ideas about how cities can become more bike-friendly. Bruce Katz, Brookings vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program, will moderate the discussion.

After the program, panelists will take audience questions.

Comments

[SJE]

I'm going to be a bit curmudgeonly about this. Having a bunch of high-profile people jawboning is good for raising awareness. Of course, in DC, that sort of thing happens all the time for all sorts of issues but never goes anywhere: in fact, the talk-fest is often a convenient distraction from actually DOING something. Political theatre, if you will. I am much more excited about the bike lanes.

(Even better, Jessica Alba riding in the bike lanes)