When we prioritize people over cars, our city and neighborhoods come alive. People who would normally drive, begin to walk and bicycle, leaving their cars in the garage instead of leaving their bicycles. These become the times when we most appreciate our city and we remember it most affectionately. This is how we most want to experience our city.
If this is when we enjoy and value our city the most, why do we ignore and discourage this same behavior through the design and maintenance of our own roads and facilities? Why would we not actively embrace and encourage the same behaviors that make us bond with the city we live in? The design of our streets reflect our priorities, and if they do not align and in fact discourage what makes us appreciate and enjoy our city the most, we need to make changes.