#strongtowns — Public Fediverse posts

Strong Towns Newcomer Orientation

Orpheum/Homewise Offices, Wednesday, April 22 at 06:00 PM MDT

Strong Towns ABQ on Instagram: "Curious about Strong Towns ABQ? New here? Just looking for a way to get involved in building a stronger Albuquerque? ✨ Join us for our Newcomer Orientation ✨ This is a low-pressure, welcoming space to learn what Strong Towns ABQ is all about; our history, goals, and how we show up for housing, transportation, and fiscally responsible growth in our city. 🗣️ Ask questions 🤝 Meet others 🧭 Find your role! Whether that’s joining a campaign, helping with outreach, or just learning more 📅 Wednesday, April 22nd ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM 📍 Homewise Center Conference Room 500 2nd St SW, Albuquerque"

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXXO8HYkfYc/

https://burque.fun/event/strong-towns-newcomer-orientation

RE: https://cosocial.ca/@showuptoronto/116426034360977115

I didn't know there's a Strong Towns Toronto group! Very cool.

Advocating for safe streets, incremental development, and an alternative to Ontario's suburban experiment.

https://strongtownstoronto.ca/

#Toronto #StrongTowns #StrongTownsToronto #Urbanism #WalkableCities #Housing #Transit

Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque

Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque

Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque

Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque

Strong Towns ABQ is entering a new chapter 🌆 Join us Wednesday, April 15 at 6 PM at Flock of Moons (111 Harvard Dr SE) as we talk campaigns, organizing, restructuring, and ways to get involved. New here? Come through. #ABQ #StrongTowns #Urbanism #yimby #strongtownsabq #albuquerque

Just read "You'll Pay for This"

All I wanted was for my kids to be able to walk and bike to school. Now I'm reviewing my village's balance sheet and making notes.

All part of the @notjustbikes to #strongtowns pipeline.

https://greatplainspress.ca/books/youll-pay-for-this-how-we-can-afford-a-great-city-for-everyone-forever/

🌄 Outer Districts Meeting is back! Join us as we continue building stronger suburban ABQ — safer streets, real community, and local impact. We’re also looking for a new group coordinator as Michael joins the Strong Towns ABQ Board 🎉 Ready to jump in? Come be part of it. #StrongTowns

Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.

Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW

When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm

#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU

Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.

Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW

When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm

#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU

Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.

Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW

When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm

#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU

Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.

Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW

When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm

#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU

Join STGR, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), and the Michigan chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism in a discussion on passenger rail and urbanism in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.

Where: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, 29 Pearl St NW

When: 2026-02-18 6:30pm - 8:00pm

#GrandRapidsMI #Strongtowns #StrongtownsGR #publictransportation #CNU #MiCNU

Despite my absolute lack of understanding about municipal finances, I did the Strong Towns Finance Decoder Worksheet for DeKalb County, GA.

Here are the results and a link to my Google sheet.

https://orangegnome.com/posts/3819/strong-towns-finance-decoder-for-dekalb-county-ga

#StrongTowns #DekalbCountyGa #FinanceDecoder #DoTheMath

@jwcph

5/5

Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.

Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish

@jwcph

5/5

Next month I start a local civics class my city is offering, giving me monthly access to key people in my local government. I've organized two trash clean ups in that time, the second one having 15 people turn out to help clean a waterway.

Getting involved locally has def gone hand in hand with a sense of nurture & nourish.

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish

@jwcph

4/

If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.

Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish

@jwcph

4/

If we're disconnected while starved for connection, starting by caring about others through nurture & nourish seems as smart a place as any.

Certainly rings true for me. A year ago I started volunteering 2 hrs a week at our community garden. About 8 months ago, going to city council meetings, and speaking. I formed a pro-bike group, and we're advocating successfully for bike paths.

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community
#nurture #nourish

@jwcph

3/

My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish

@jwcph

3/

My partner @agni made an observation about grass roots marketing in general - rather than spend 100% of time blasting out what you're doing, spend 80% nourishing and nurturing others, caring about them, boosting them, giving them support and love. Then 20% saying "oh hey we're organizing downtown every other sat at a coffee shop".

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish

@jwcph

2/

What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?

I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live. What turns that around? What changed that for me, why did I start to care?

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community #nurture #nourish

@jwcph

1/

I think I was in my late 30s when my brain made the jump from thinking "they really should do something about this dumpy town I have to live in" to "omg it's me, 'public' means it's all our jobs" and it's only been the last few years that I've put that into action.

I think the need is self-apparent - as residents, we regularly feel disconnected and disinterested in the place where we live.

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community

@jwcph

1/

I think I was in my late 30s when my brain made the jump from thinking "they really should do something about this dumpy town I have to live in" to "omg it's me, 'public' means it's all our jobs" and it's only been the last few years that I've put that into action.

#civiccollapse #civicrepair #civic #urbanism #strongtowns #community

OK, finished the paper. Excellent work, hats off to Boston U School of Law, and Hartzog & Silbey. It's fetching that a paper on the dangers of AI resembles a steam train; slow to get started, but with eventual and unstoppable inertia.

Plus now I want to read Putnam's "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community". Warning to my #strongtowns peeps, prepare to be annoyed with my new single minded focus

#criticism #scholarly #paper #schoolOfLaw
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5870623

"The stakes are as high as they come, including the vitality of public education and supportive, livable neighborhoods. Functioning hospitals, thriving religious and civic organizations, regular participation in community gatherings and municipal hearings, and reliable local businesses are cornerstones of civic life."

Holy shit, well said.

#strongtowns #genAI #howAIDestroysInstitutions #criticism #scholarly #paper #schoolOfLaw #civic

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5870623

Strong Towns Monthly Meeting

Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center, Wednesday, January 21 at 06:00 PM MST

Strong Towns ABQ on Instagram: "📍 Strong Towns ABQ January Monthly Meeting Curious about how Albuquerque grows — and how you can help shape it? Our January meeting is open to first-time joiners and longtime advocates alike. 🗓 Wednesday, January 21 ⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM 📍 Center for Peace & Justice 202 Harvard Dr SE ✨ On the agenda: • A conversation with Sen. Antonio Maestas about housing legislation at the Roundhouse this session • How to effectively comment and advocate during the legislative session • What’s next for the upcoming IDO zoning amendments and how to get involved Whether you’re brand new, just curious, or ready to jump in, this is a welcoming space for shared goals, open conversation, and practical action — all in service of a stronger, more resilient Albuquerque. ♿️ Wheelchair accessible 🚲 Bike racks available 🚌 Easy access via ART 🍔 Outside food welcome 🍻 Optional social afterward at Flock of Moons (7:30pm) Come as you are — bring your curiosity. 💛 #abq #albuquerque #strongtowns #abqlocal"

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTJ0smbjiLw/

https://burque.fun/event/strong-towns-monthly-meeting

Albuquerque showed up. At the first LUPZ hearing on the pro-homes IDO amendments, 38 people spoke in support, more than double the opposition. A broad, citywide coalition made the case for practical, incremental housing reform. More to come. #abq #albuquerque #strongtowns #yimby #nmtrue

Great turnout for support of the desperately needed #zoning changes proposed here in #albuquerque .

#localpolitics #housing #strongtowns

https://www.youtube.com/live/VL7tDlyBgCc?si=pu2JYDgSURqg3OfZ

@Wyatt_H_Knott @dnkboston @benroyce @MikeImBack

(part 2 of 2)

It's up to a bunch of us down here to move the football down the field and score some goals...over the course of years. (Every meeting I attend, I learn of new organizations, sources of funding, meet new people. I get more ideas on whom to talk to about various projects. I continue to recruit more folks to these projects. Yeah, I'm retired and I want to serve the community.)

Will this topple the Trump regime and banish all MAGA to the inner circle of Hell? End the evils of capitalism? Create a moneyless society? End the poverty and homelessness problems?

No to all the above.

I will add my voice to the Fediverse about a national general strike, etc....but I always have to keep tending my local garden.

I'd love to hear about how all y'all are tending your local gardens. (Note: the plural form of "y'all" is "all y'all".)

#Urbanism #StrongTowns #CivicEngagement #CommunityBuilding #Community #Volunteer #NonProfit #EconomicDevelopment #Capitalism #Politics #USpol

@Wyatt_H_Knott @dnkboston @benroyce @MikeImBack

As Voltaire wrote in the final line of his satirical novella Candide:

"All that is very well," answered Candide, "but let us cultivate our garden."

What is Tom's 'garden' and how does he tend it?

I live in southern New Mexico - Otero county. Our county seat is the megalopolis of Alamogordo.

In 2023 I helped an Alamogordo city commissioner candidate...Democratic party...win...in a ruby red district...by 11 votes! (GOP was dumb. They had two candidates that split their vote. We saw an opportunity and capitalized on it.) See first graphic.

In 2025 I help a mayoral candidate for Alamogordo...Democratic party...win...in a ruby red district...by a narrow margin. (GOP, again!, split their vote.) Our campaign support team coalition had folks from all across the political spectrum, excepting MAGA. The results were historic:
https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/348521/sharon-mcdonald-mayor-elect-alamogordo-historic-victory

The new mayor announced open office hours to kick off her term:
https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/e/352772/meet-one-one-new-alamogordo-mayor-sharon-mcdonald

I spoke with our new mayor for over an hour. One topic was economic development. I'm The Data Guy and said we had never mapped economic data onto streets/lots. If we can visualize data in a new way, we're gonna learn new things that just might help the city. See 2nd graphic. I borrowed that from:
https://www.urbanthree.com/

Is your city mapping economic data that way? If not, why not? Help your city hall get smarter.

I got the idea from exposure to Strong Towns:
https://www.strongtowns.org/
...and I saw this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nw6qyyrTeI

When I started mentioning this to the mayor, she said "this sounds like some of the stuff I read in the two Strong Towns books I have."

I take that as a promising sign. Especially in ruby red southern New Mexico.

(part 1 of 2)

#Urbanism #StrongTowns #CivicEngagement #CommunityBuilding #Community #Volunteer #NonProfit #EconomicDevelopment #Capitalism #Politics #USpol

Someone screen-shared this page on the #StrongTowns in their and I was like "wait, I took that photo!"

https://www.strongtowns.org/streets

I shared the photo through Unsplash, which gives organizations the right to use it for free.

Happy to support the Safe & Productive Streets campaign!

Despite all the left-hand signaling in the photo, there was no intersection where the photo was taken. I thought it could make a great photo, so I encouraged them to practice as we went around a bend!

Rt 2 Corridor (Congress and Ferry)

I submitted the below comment to the public comment section for the Rt. 2 Corridor project. Capital Streets has a good deal of additional information.

I write as an RPI alumnus and former resident of the City of Troy. While I now reside across the river in Colonie, I return to Troy regularly to enjoy cultural events, to shop at the farmers market, and to patronize the many fine restaurants and small businesses downtown Troy has to offer (and to attend the occasional hockey game at my alma mater). While I frequently ride my bike when I’m on my own, I more often drive, as I’m accompanied other family members. In both cases, I am very aware of the challenges that have prompted the work on the Route 2 Corridor.

I’m concerned about the City’s decision to use Alternative 1A. The size of the lanes means increased traffic speed, with commensurate increases in noise, pollution, and danger from moving vehicles. The loss of tree cover will make walking less pleasant throughout the corridor. The reduction in parking will make it more difficult to travel to Troy, even if the first two problems didn’t discourage me from coming in the first place. Even the added bike lane is largely unusable, as the lack of any barrier from the higher speed moving traffic will make it uncomfortable to use at best. And having lived for a number of years a block away from the corridor, I can’t imagine it being better for the City’s residents either.

In short, the City’s preferred choice doesn’t seem to solve any of the problems that motivated the project to begin with. There are better options available. Alternative 1B, and even Alternative 1A Modified address many of the concerns above. I urge the City to reconsider its choice.

Strongtowns ABQ Social Hour

Sidetrack Brewing, Thursday, November 6 at 06:00 PM MST

We’re hosting our second dedicated Strong Towns ABQ Social Hour on November 6th, and you’re invited! 🎉

This gathering is meant to be a low-barrier way to connect—whether you’re a Strong Towns member, an urbanist, a YIMBY, a safe streets advocate, a budget nerd, or just someone curious about our group.

Come hang out, ask questions, and learn more about the movement. Or just relax, share what you love about Albuquerque (or cities in general), and shoot the breeze with neighbors.

✨ Carlos will be hosting this session—come say hi, hang out, nerd out, and build community!

https://burque.fun/event/strongtowns-abq-social-hour

BICYCLES

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-human-on-a-bicycle-is-among-the-most-efficient-forms-of-travel-in-the/

#biking #bicycles #ebikes #StrongTowns #urbanism

https://bsky.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4v37luo7y3ay7il4avgexpbn/post/3m3zmsjcsok2i

✨New Post✨ The city’s top-down approach to 15-minute neighbourhoods is too expensive. We can achieve the goal city-wide with a more fiscally prudent path: fixing our zoning to allow our communities to evolve organically. #LandUse #Zoning #OttPoli #Urbanism #StrongTowns

A Fiscally Prudent Path to Tru...

"we were there the first time" #cville #SafeStreets #preservation #walkable #StrongTowns #urbanism https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025-6-24-why-charlottesville-staff-are-walking-the-talkliterally

The Road That Killed Legend Jenkins Was Working as Designed

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025/8/18/the-road-that-killed-legend-jenkins-was-working-exactly-as-designed

#HackerNews #TheRoadThatKilledLegendJenkins #WorkingAsDesigned #UrbanPlanning #TrafficSafety #StrongTowns

Bioplhilia and the need to fill our cities with nature.

The one giant living ecosystem we are all part of on planet Earth has given birth to us human beings. Our DNA comes from this ecosystem. Our cell structures, our shapes, and our brains are what they are today because we inherited them from our “Mother Earth.” To be human is to be from planet Earth and its living ecosystem.

Humanity has known this truth for millennia, and many cultures throughout history had some way of expressing it. The Greeks created Gaia, the earth goddess, who symbolises the living spirit of nature and embodies our deep, instinctive connection to the natural world. Australia’s Indigenous peoples believed in Dreamtime, which represents the sacred connection between people, land, and nature—echoing a recognition of humans’ innate bond with the living world. Humans have long known this connection with nature on a spiritual level, and modern science has only amplified that understanding further.

Biophilia

Biophilia, which literally means “love of life” or “love of living systems,” acknowledges how we recognise our connection to nature on an emotional level. Being surrounded by the natural world feels like a mother’s embrace—a deep connection to our heritage and our very essence. This is why, when immersed in nature, we experience a profound affinity with our environment. Biophilia refers to the innate human tendency to seek connections with nature and other living beings. It reflects the inherent bond humans have with the natural world, which positively impacts both our physical and mental health. Biophilia is linked to reduced stress, enhanced cognitive function, and an overall greater sense of well-being.

Our broken connection with nature

It’s clear to see that this connection has been broken. As more and more people move into our industrialised and mechanised cities, a growing number of people experience this broken connection. The noise from our machines, the pollution they create, the giant freeways, speeding cars, hard surfaces, and toxic smells in our cities all disconnect us from that inherent sense of belonging to the environment. All these unnatural elements create tension, unease, and anxiety within us. Perhaps not all the time, and usually to a greater or lesser degree, but that uneasy feeling is there, just beneath the surface. While we distract ourselves with our jobs, gadgets, entertainment and leisure activities, the need for connection with nature always lives below the surface.

Nature connectedness

All over the world, people are noticing this broken connection. People are writing books about Biophilia, [Links] blogging about it, creating academic courses, [Link] and making videos on the subject. [Link] Nature Therapy and Nature Bathing have become business opportunities, with people paying to reconnect with nature. [Link] The theory of Nature Connectedness is now well established and attracting research interest. [Link] As more and more people recognise these broken connections in our cities, the rise of a movement in response should come as no surprise.

Modern day deserts – Loneliness

Our cities have become modern-day deserts to humanity’s Biophilic needs. They can feel completely alien to us, both physically and emotionally. In urban environments, it is often only our shared connection with other people that keeps us feeling grounded and happy. For hundreds of years, our relationships with each other have fulfilled many of our innate “nature-connected” needs—but even that is now breaking down. As we organise ourselves into increasingly disconnected and individual spheres, we are losing that vital human-to-human connection. As more people drive everywhere, that sense of connection fades. As more people move to suburbs—especially those without local parks, town squares, or corner shops where we naturally bump into other people—things only get worse. Is it any wonder that we’re now facing a loneliness epidemic? [Link]

In the Countryside 

While this post is mostly about cities, it would be wrong to think that this disconnection exists only in urban areas. Our countryside has suffered significant ecological degradation. It’s crisscrossed by asphalt roads and divided by fences, with fields ravaged by heavy agricultural machinery, leaving behind vast, artificial monocultures. While we can still find pockets of nature, they are like small islands—similar to parks in our cities. Is it any wonder that farmers commit suicide in such high numbers? Yes, this has much to do with the pressures of modern agriculture, but a disconnect from nature clearly plays a role as well.

I still think of that scene in Trainspotting, the movie, where the protagonists leave their squalid urban surroundings to enjoy a walk in the countryside. When they get there, they find a cold, wind-swept, barren place that in no way feels welcoming. It may be the countryside, but it’s been stripped of almost all life. Our anti-heroes quickly scurry back to their squalid urban life, which they see as the preferable option. I wonder if they had gone to the countryside and been surrounded by lush green forests and spent time sitting under giant trees with the sun on their faces, perhaps the film would have ended a bit differently. [Link]

Both urban and rural environments suffer from invisible toxins permeating the air, soil, and water, disrupting nature’s delicate balance. These pollutants and petrochemicals break fundamental ecological bonds, causing widespread environmental damage. Though their effects remain unseen, these toxins are making our planet and its farmers increasingly ill. [Link] While Biophilia focuses on humanity’s connection to nature, when we damage nature’s internal connections on a large scale, we ultimately harm ourselves as well.

These problems are well known by farmers, yet few are willing to acknowledge them or make the necessary changes. Charles Massey, a Monaro woolgrower, in his book The Reed Warbler, explores the profound connection between humans and nature, emphasising that this bond is essential for our well-being and spiritual health. He argues that the natural world is not just a backdrop for human activity but a living, interconnected system of which we are deeply part of. Massey highlights how reconnecting with nature helps restore a sense of belonging and meaning, countering the alienation many feel in modern, technology-driven society. [Link]

The Wealthy

Wealthy individuals throughout history have leveraged their financial resources and influence to immerse themselves in natural surroundings. This practice spans from the meticulously designed gardens of 18th-century European nobility to the verdant landscapes of affluent suburbs and sprawling country estates. What began as a display of status has evolved into a means of creating personal green sanctuaries amidst our increasingly industrialised urban environments and altered landscapes. In contrast, the poorest people have always been denied access to nature in cities. From the Manchester terraces, of the Industrial Revolution, to the favelas of South America, greenery and nature have consistently been withheld from the urban poor by developers and planners.

With the impacts of climate change worsening, phenomena like the urban heat island effect highlight some of the many other issues that arise from a lack of nature. While many cities are finally beginning to address the issue of limited green space in the poorest neighbourhoods, available resources are nowhere near enough to meet the scale of the problem. Much of the work is still often left to small not-for-profit organisations like North East Trees in LA. [Link]

Creature Comforts

While we do love our connection to nature, we also love the creature comforts that our cities offer. We don’t enjoy being surrounded by nature when we are uncomfortably cold and wet. We appreciate what our homes and cities provide: roofs over our heads, mud-free streets, temperature-controlled environments, running water, access to a myriad of services and more. Nobody wants to give up their creature comforts, but in order to have many of them, we end up destroying nature. Nobody is saying we should all go live in forests—so the question remains: what is the compromise? How can we have more nature in our cities, that we can connect with, especially when “free” space is in such short supply?

Bringing nature back

Our aim should be to restore as much nature as possible to both our cities and the countryside. We need to look at the quickest and easiest ways to do this and get started on those first. For me, the absolute simplest way is by removing a modest 10% of on-street parking and replacing it with native trees and plants. This would absolutely transform our cities. Streets are one of the most important parts of our cities and should be part of our commons that we all have the right to change—within reason and with full consultation.

Yimby Melbourne produced this excellent report, looking at the feasibly and benefits of this approach and even did some costs too. http://trees.yimby.melbourne 

There are many ways we can swap parking for greenery that are quick, reasonably cheap, and would have an immediate effect on our cities. Paris is leading the way on this. Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s plan for removing 70,000 of the city’s 140,000 on-street parking spaces to make Paris greener and more people-friendly is well under way.

Participatory Urbanism.

It’s 2025, and it is long past time that everyone in our cities had the same access to greenery that the wealthiest residents enjoy. Yes, there is a cost to this, but there is an even greater human health cost for those living in nature-deprived spaces. Fortunately, there are ways to achieve greening objectives more quickly, more cheaply, and more easily through participatory urbanism—by inviting people to shape their own streets and giving residents who want to get hands-on a way to do so, as Emma Cutting has done with her Pollinators Corridor project. [Link]

All over the world we are seeing citizen De-paving movements springing up. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depaving] Where local residents go out into the community and looking for opportunities to rip out hard surfaces and replacing them with nature. There are groups all over the world, from Portland to Berlin now doing this. Once the paving has gone they plant trees and bushes and return a little more space back to nature. De-paving also allows for opportunities to bringing back natural hydrological systems that capture stormwater run off. De-paving projects often include Sustainable Urban Stormwater Design. (SuSD) This is an approach to managing rainwater and runoff in urban areas that prioritises environmental sustainability, aiming to mimic natural hydrological processes to reduce pollution, improve water quality, and enhance urban resilience. I wrote about a project like this [HERE]

The Melbourne Regen Network has recently launched its 300,000 Streets initiative, which aims to transform the city’s streets into vibrant, community-centered spaces that promote social interaction, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. This project seeks to engage residents in shaping their neighbourhoods, addressing issues like walkability and green space to enhance overall liveability. [Link]

Wrapping up…

Biophilia is something that exists in all of us to a greater or lesser degree. Though we may block it out with endless distractions, it’s always there in the background. For many people, this need for connection with nature—and with others—is much more pronounced, much clearer and more obvious. For some, the disconnection from nature contributes to a general feeling of unease, a background anxiety they just can’t quite put their finger on.

As our cities and countryside have become more industrialised and mechanised, the backlash against our disconnection with nature has grown stronger and stronger. We are now at a point where thousands of movements around the world recognise Biophilia and are actively seeking to do something about it. This is very much part of what I see as the Re-Growth Revolution. [Link] And this author, for one, thinks this is bloody marvellous!

#Biodiversity #Biophilia #climateChange #Environment #nature #OWGF #Regeneration #SolarPunk #StrongTowns #sustainability #Urbanism

Is this a template for the Solar Punk City of the future?

We should all be deeply skeptical about anyone promising to create a perfect city or society. A lot has been written about how it is not desirable, or even possible, to create a “Utopia,” where everyone lives in harmony. Erik Olin Wright, the prominent sociologist, extensively discussed the concept of “real utopias” in his influential book Envisioning Real Utopias, where he outlines the potential dangers of idealism over practicality. Real Utopias dismisses the idea of perfect societies and instead advocates for practical, achievable alternatives rooted in existing social practices. His work serves both as a critique of capitalism and as a guide for envisioning a more equitable future. [Envisioning Real Utopias]

The word Utopia literally translates as “no place”, coming from the Greek: οὐ (“not”) and τόπος (“place”), and refers to any non-existent society. So it makes sense to look at Utopias as inspirational ideas and principles and not some perfect city or society that we are trying to create. A Utopia can therefore be seen as a set of ideas, principles, and goals aimed at improving people’s quality of life, without expecting perfection—this is the essence of SolarPunk.

When it comes to applying the right principles and goals, Gelephu Mindfulness City, a new city being built in the Kingdom of Bhutan, has a lot of good ideas. Gelephu Mindfulness City, announced in December 2023 by Bhutan’s King, is a 2,500 km² Special Administrative Region designed to integrate Gross National Happiness (GNH) principles with sustainable urban planning. The project aims to house over one million residents across eco-friendly infrastructure and diverse economic clusters, and is being built on these six principles.

1. Mindfulness and Well-being at the Core

At its heart, GMC is designed to cultivate mindfulness—an awareness of the present moment, both individually and collectively. This principle extends beyond meditation or spiritual practices into urban planning, community design, and daily life. Public spaces and neighbourhoods are created to encourage social interaction, reflection, and connection to nature, supporting mental and emotional well-being.

2. Integration of Tradition and Modernity

Rather than replicating a generic modern city, GMC is deeply rooted in Bhutanese culture, spirituality, and values. The city’s design is inspired by the sacred Mandala geometry, symbolising harmony and balance. This approach ensures that while embracing innovation and technology, the city preserves and honors Bhutan’s rich Buddhist heritage and cultural identity.

3. Environmental Sustainability

Gelephu Mindfulness City places ecological stewardship at the forefront. It aims to be carbon-neutral by leveraging renewable energy sources such as hydropower and incorporating green building materials like bamboo and timber. The city integrates natural landscapes, including paddy fields and river corridors, which act as biodiversity sanctuaries and natural stormwater management systems.

4. Economic Diversity and Resilience

The city is planned to foster seven economic clusters, including spirituality, health and wellness, education, green technology, finance, agriculture, and aviation. This diversification promotes economic stability, job creation, and innovation, supporting Bhutan’s broader development goals while attracting international investment.

5. Community-Centered Urban Design

GMC’s unique “ribbon” layout connects neighborhoods with inhabitable bridges, creating micro-communities linked by shared amenities. This fosters a strong sense of belonging and encourages interaction among residents. Public spaces are designed to be interactive and inclusive, supporting cultural exchange and lifelong learning.

6. Holistic Healthcare

The city envisions integrating Eastern and Western medicine to provide holistic healthcare. Facilities will focus not only on physical health but also on mental and spiritual well-being, reflecting Bhutan’s comprehensive approach to health.

If every city and local government in the world considered at least some of those principles in their decision making, our cities would be much nicer places to live in. Ideas like Community-Centered Urban Design are not too different from what 15-Minute Cities are trying to achieve. Retrofitting our cities so that we all have access to shops and amenities, that fulfill our basic needs, within our local communities.

“Gelephu Mindfulness City layout connects neighborhoods with inhabitable bridges, creating micro-communities linked by shared amenities. This fosters a strong sense of belonging and encourages interaction among residents. Public spaces are designed to be interactive and inclusive, supporting cultural exchange and lifelong learning.”

What is potentially an issue with Gelephu Mindfulness City is the fact it has been initiated by a King, and therefore it is hard to know how much the people of Bhutan were consulted. Gross National Happiness, the renowned economic model from Bhutan, was developed with significant input from the Bhutanese people and reflects a deeply rooted cultural and philosophical foundation rather than being a purely top-down concept. So hopefully this was the same. Ultimately, projects that deeply and genuinely consult the people who inhabit a space or will inhabit a space have a much better chance of being a success.

As a project that signposts to a Wonderful Green Future, I do think this is noteworthy. And certainly, a lot better than most other new cities that are being developed. (Telosa – America’s $400 Billion Dystopia) I look forward to watching this project progress, and hopefully, it’s a success and inspires cities everywhere to try some of its ideas. While this project may be more HydroPunk than SolarPunk, 😏 there are a lot of ideas in it that will appeal to fans of the genre.

To find out more about those principles and other information, check out the official website here: www.gmc.bt. There are lots of really interesting ideas in the project, including a temple built into a hydroelectric dam.

This post was created in #WordPress and can be viewed in the #Fedivers at: @[email protected]

OWGF has a Fediverse companion profile at: https://mastodon.world/@OWGF

OWGF is also on #Pixelfed here: https://pixelfed.social/OWGF

www.owgf.org

#Architecture #climateChange #OWGF #SolarPunk #StrongTowns #sustainability #Urbanism

Participatory Urbanism: A beginners guide

I recently did a speech to my local Rotary Club about a Participatory Urbanism project I am working on. To my surprise, the audience appeared equally interested in the whole Participatory Urbanism concept, as much as the project itself. So I thought it would be good to put together a quick explainer, which I can point people to, if they are interested.

Participatory Urbanism is an approach to city planning and development that actively involves citizens in the decision-making processes, right from the start, to create more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable urban environments.

Urban planning, once the exclusive domain of architects, developers, and policymakers, is slowly opening its doors to the people who live in the neighbourhoods they are shaping. This movement—known as Participatory Urbanism—is about putting residents at the centre of urban change. Unlike what we see right now, where residents are on the periphery of any decision making.

Participatory Urbanism invites community members to co-create the future of their cities. It moves beyond consultation into real collaboration, where local knowledge, lived experiences, and collective imagination become essential tools in the planning process. Whether it’s redesigning a park, rethinking traffic flow, or creating more inclusive public spaces, the goal is to make cities not just more efficient—but more just, vibrant, and responsive to human needs.

This approach goes by many names. You might hear it called “collaborative urbanism”, “community-led planning”, or “co-design”. In digital spaces, it intersects with “civic tech” and the “smart citizen” movement, where data and tools empower residents to advocate for better services. In the physical world, it often overlaps with “tactical urbanism”—those DIY, grassroots projects that temporarily transform urban spaces to test new ideas.

What unites all these threads is a simple but powerful belief: the people who live in a place are experts in their own right. By making space for their voices, we build not just better cities—but stronger communities.

Right now we get community participation really, really wrong. Most civic systems are hierarchical, with decisions made by a few “experts” behind closed doors. Public participation is often tokenistic—last-minute, limited, and on the civic leaders’ terms. It feels disingenuous, formal, and uninspiring, excluding genuine input and creativity. The same voices dominate, while people are sidelined and are not truly at the centre of decision-making.

Participatory Urbanism ultimately means reimagining our cities as places shaped by the people who live in them. It shifts power from top-down planning to collaborative processes where residents have a real say in decisions that affect their daily lives. This approach fosters more inclusive, equitable, and responsive urban environments by valuing local knowledge, creativity, and lived experience. When communities co-create their neighbourhoods—whether through planning, design, or stewardship—cities become more vibrant, just, and resilient. Participatory urbanism is about putting people at the heart of urban change, ensuring cities are not just built for communities, but built with them.

There is no one single way to implement Participatory Urbanism. Lots of cities are trying to do it right now and we see lots of different ideas and models emerging. In reality there never should be one single approach/method/model because that flies in the face of the whole idea of consulting local residents. An approach that suits one city may not work in another. Fortunately there are lots of examples we can look at from around the world, and take inspiration from. I wrote about Bologna, Italy’s approach here: https://owgf.org/2024/08/02/should-we-follow-bolognas-model-for-participatory-urbanism/ There is also the Transition Network working on providing ideas for communities that want to organise, which I posted about here: https://owgf.org/2024/08/04/transition-togethers-free-step-by-step-guide/ Also a quick web search for “Participatory Urbanism Tools” will deliver more results than you can poke a stick at.

Our Wonderful Green Future will be a co-designed by the people, for the people.

This post was created in #WordPress and can be viewed in the #Fedivers at: @[email protected]

OWGF has a Fediverse companion profile at: https://mastodon.world/@OWGF

OWGF is also on #Pixelfed here: https://pixelfed.social/OWGF

#Environment #OurWonderfulGreenFuture #OWGF #Regeneration #SolarPunk #StrongTowns #sustainability #Urbanism

Glad to see some local stroad coverage: SR-46 a growing pain for Ellettsville, Indiana residents https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/stroad-sr-46-a-growing-pain-for-ellettsville-residents.php

#strongtowns #urbanplanning #stroad

Connecting with nature | Field Studies

One thing I am personally involved in right now is getting more greenery into my local community and encouraging more people to connect with it. This excellent video delves into the concept of Nature Connectedness, and how it is about more than having contact with nature, it means having a sense of a relationship with nature.

In this video The Natural History Museum outlines a five step pathway to guide people towards nature connectedness, as well as talking about how to engage with nature when in an urban environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMwvCIlCmOM

Note:

This post was created in #WordPress and can be viewed in the #Fedivers at: @[email protected]

OWGF has a Fediverse companion profile at: https://mastodon.world/@OWGF

OWGF is also on #Pixelfed here: https://pixelfed.social/OWGF

#Biodiversity #ClimateChange #Community #connectedness #connection #nature #OWGF #philosophy #Regeneration #StrongTowns #Urbanism

@GhostOnTheHalfShell @ai6yr @TheEffekt

This is the ethos of #StrongTowns: to build #antifragile communities that are economically sustainable, and optimized for people (not petroconsumption, like car #culture).

And of course this is a direct confrontation to the #incrementalism approach preached by my friends at #strongtowns and #cnu https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2018/9/5/incrementalism

Does anyone who does #GIS know how to calculate #frontage information easily, or a good algorithm for it? My local #NorthamptonMA #StrongTowns group would really like to be able to get our hands on frontage data to try and calculate some stuff.

Please boost!

(not that "please boost" seems to ever work for me)

#massachusetts

Here's how to ACTUALLY end traffic deaths. #Traffication #Urbanism
Via: #strongtowns

But is #incrementalism actually this? It certainly is presented in a way in the #StrongTowns book in a way that is consistent with this. Josh (#RadicalPlanning) criticizes it as preserving the status quo and claims that it has no guiding vision. I find the lacking of proof though. Why can you not have a guiding vision and try to get there in small steps?

Take your pick...
#Urbanism #Cycling #USpol #DeSantis #WalkableStreets #StrongTowns
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2024/4/29/ron-desantis-doesnt-like-bike-lanes-floridians-seem-to-agree

Going down the rabbit hole... Looks like WSP Global - a Canadian consulting company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSP_Global - is pushing #RUC across the US and many DOTs are buying into it. Seems like something #StrongTowns should have on their radar but I could not find them commenting on it.