The Angel of Urbanism

Enrique Penalosa, the former mayor of Bogota, has a wonderful Q & A in the New York Times in which he claims that “sidewalks are the basis of democracy.” He hardly needs to say more—he is the angel of urbanism. There is no clearer statement of urban values than the idea that walkable, high-density core cities and democracy are near equivalents. It ought to be a clear principle that in this age of global warming and environmental destruction that walking and biking are not only the future of the world but are forces for moral good. Bravo Mr. Penalosa, keep it up!