Searching for People Friendly Cities in an Increasingly Urban World

The World is Becoming More Urban Every Day!

In 2008, for the first time in history, more people were living in cities than outside them. Experts predict that in the next 20 to 30 years the percentage of city dwellers will increase to 70%. This compares to only 10% back in 1900.

Cities therefore need to be 'People Friendly', that is, places where people can Live, Work, Play, Learn, Thrive and Be Happy.

Such cities will follow our Principals of People Friendly Cities. Examples from Delft, Netherlands are below.

Pleasing and Efficient Physical Form	Mobility	Natural World Connections

Our Search
We have traveled around the world; to places such as Los Angeles, Shanghai, Bangkok, Delhi, Budapest, and Madrid to study what makes a People Friendly city.

We offer you stories of our travels with our thoughts and conclusions and plenty of pictures.
Click here for the full list, or click on the links below for our more recent additions.

Summer 2010 - Turkey and More Time in Europe  (New on 7/05/10)

   Turkey

• Istanbul: City of Blue Waters, Rich Past, Influential Future  (New on 7/12/10)
• Topkapi Palace - Seat of Power of the Ottoman Empire   (New on 7/17/10)
• Kudos to Istanbul for People Friendliness!  (New on 7/29/10)
• Sultanahmet Camii, The Blue Mosque  (New on 8/01/10)
• The Ruins of Ephesus Tell Many Stories  (New on 8/23/10)
• Aya Sofya, Emperor Constantine's Church of Holy Wisdom  (New on 8/25/10)

   Netherlands

• Delft - Nearly Perfect Urban Living  (New on 8/15/10)

Spring 2010 - Central and South America

   Argentina

• At Home Again - Summer in Buenos Aires
• Cataratas de Iguazu - a Fluviophile's Dream!
• Buenos Aires - Lively, Vigorous and People Friendly
• Puerto Madero - Buenos Aires' Connection to the Water's Edge
• We Get Caught Up in International Politics  (New on 8/30/10)

   Peru

• Nasca Lines - A 'Gods-eye' View
• Colca - A Grander Canyon?
• Machu Picchu - Pachacutec's Great Citadel

As we have searched, we have developed a special way of life, our 'Nomad Lifestyle'. It involves traveling much of the time, but staying in most places for a longer time than most tourists; a minimum of a week and preferably a month or more. In a longer visit, we can experience a place more thoroughly and savor the experiences that we encounter along the way.

People often ask us how we do it. Click here for a few hints, tips and ideas about our 'Nomad Lifestyle'.

Knowing what makes a People Friendly City is not enough !!

The real challenge is finding ways to ensure that our cities grow to be more People Friendly and working with those who can influence this process.

We believe that there are three key groups of people who determine how this transition happens;

- Urban Planners and Designers
- Developers
- Home seekers - commuters, students, employers and employees - US!

• Let's consider US first.
  Our choices about where to live and work and how we travel from place to place have a tremendous impact on city design. 
  Click here to read more.

• What about Urban Planners and Designers?
  Planning and design is a visionary process that helps us figure out what the future should look like. If we don't choose where we want to go, we probably won't get there! 
  Click here to read more.

• What about Developers?
  Developers, public and private, make the designs and plans come to life. They make the investments and build our cities.
  Click here to read more.

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