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

In this Streetfilm, Streetsblog publisher Mark Gorton interviews award-winning journalist Charles Montgomery about his fantastic new book, "Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design," which delves into the hard-to-measure question of how the built environment affects our mental wellbeing.

Mark and Charles discuss how research from the fields of neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology is helping us understand the relationship between happiness and our surroundings. The film also ends up touching on quite a few New York City places like Times Square, the Lower East Side, and Jackson Heights, Queens.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Thursday’s Headlines: The Chips Fall Edition

So much corruption, so little time. Plus other news.

August 21, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Measuring Emissions Reduction for Bike Commutes

We talk to Mark Kabbash about his new system for measuring and verifying bike commuting to obtain carbon avoidance credits.

August 21, 2025

Advocates Beg DOT Sec. Duffy to Give Up Space and Fix Transit On Earth

Transportation Secretary/acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy wants to put a nuclear reactor on the moon. But a lot of Americans just want the bus to come on time.

August 21, 2025

This Company Wants to Help More Americans Buy Used E-Bikes

Trade wars in Washington are having a chilling effect on the U.S. bike market. Could selling more used cycles fill the gap?

August 21, 2025

OPINION: NYC Has Noise Cameras To Catch Loud Cars. Why Aren’t We Funding It?

The Adams administration is supposed to install 25 of them by the end of September. What's going on?

August 20, 2025

No, Washington Post, Driver’s Ed Isn’t The ‘Main Cause’ of Our Road Violence Crisis

The paper's recent article blamed bad driver's ed for America's dismal roadway safety stats — but that's just wrong.

August 20, 2025
See all posts