Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Public Space

“Our Cities Ourselves”: Imagining the Future of Urban Transport

newyork_terreform.jpg"Brooklyn Bridge Remix/Redux," by Terreform and Michael Sorkin Studio

Today, Manhattan's AIA Center for Architecture debuted an exhibition that envisions a new era of sustainable mobility. For "Our Cities Ourselves," the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy invited architects to take on the evolving transportation needs of the world's cities, which in two decades are expected to be home to 60 percent of the global population.

In the middle of the 20th century, cities across the United Stateswere redesigned to accommodate the car. As people flocked to thesuburbs, cities were retrofitted with highways and parking lots. Roadsexpanded, public transit declined and so did our cities. In the decadesthat followed, cities around the world imported this auto-dominanturban design and began to suffer from its devastating impact. Our Cities Ourselves proposes an exciting alternative path.

The aim is to think about what sort of cities we want to live in, thesort of street we want to walk along, and the sort of future we wantfor ourselves and our children. Looking ahead, how will each of us helpcreate our cities for ourselves?

Though the program focuses on cities in developing countries, New York is among the 10 represented. For its contribution, Manhattan firm Terreform proposes road pricing for Lower Manhattan, bike lanes on the lower level of the Brooklyn Bridge, and public space in place of the FDR.

"Our Cities Ourselves" runs through September 11. Admission is free. Hours, location and other details are here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Crossing the T’s: State Finally Signs Federal Agreement To Start Congestion Pricing

She can't back out this time — though there still are some court hurdles to leap.

November 22, 2024

Friday’s Headlines: City of Yes Edition

There was only one story yesterday: The embattled mayor succeeded in passing what might become the signature initiative of his one term. But there was other news, too.

November 22, 2024

Analysis: Mayor Gets the ‘W,’ But Council Turns His Zoning Plan into ‘City Of Yes … Sort Of’

The City Council took a crucial step towards passing City of Yes, but it also let low density areas opt out of much of the plan.

November 22, 2024

Five Ways New NYPD Boss Jessica Tisch Can Fix Our Dangerous Streets

If the Sanitation Commissioner wants to use her new position to make city streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, here's where she can start.

November 21, 2024
See all posts