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Read this if you are not sure whether cities should be building cycle lanes or not

The Real Reason why Bicycles are Key to a Better City, by Kasey Klimes, Secret Republic – Designing a Better Urban Ecosystem

We all know the talking points. The benefits of bicycles have been tirelessly elaborated upon; bicycles improve health, ease congestion, save money, use less space, and…

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Exciting new Cape Town literary festival 21-25 September 2011

For information about an exciting new literary festival taking place in The Fringe, Cape Town’s innovation district in the Central City, see:

http://www.creativecapetown.net/opening-up-the-fringe-with-books

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“Pedestrians in Cape Town are a hunted race”… We’ve made some progress

In 2005, Gehl Architects from Copenhagen did an analysis of public space and public life in the Cape Town Central City. Jan Gehl, world-renowned architect and pioneer of the city-building philosophy of “first people, then space, and then buildings”, commented at the time, when he saw the extent of car-dominance…

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New exhibition in Cape Town: Beyond car-dependent models of city development

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Our Cities Ourselves: The Future of Transportation in Urban Life showcases the potential transformational role of transportation in ten major cities across the world and illustrates how the dream of a sustainable, equitable and liveable future can be realized when transport is a core foundation.

Ten of the world’s leading…

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Top New York City transportation and planning officials visit Cape Town as part of ITDP delegation

It’s only when I play ‘development tour guide’ in my own city that I fully appreciate all the amazing things going on. Last week was no exception. I was fortunate to help host Janette Sadik-Kahn, NYC Transport Commissioner and Amanda Burden, NYC Planning Commissioner, who visited Cape Town as part…

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U2360° in Cape Town 18 February 2011

What better place to celebrate turning 52 than with U2, my family and 75 000 others at the Cape Town Stadium on a summer’s evening under a full moon?

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Opportunities for a new V&A Waterfront Development Path, or, will it be Business as Usual?

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Cape Town’s well-known V&A Waterfront is back under South African ownership. It was sold yesterday to Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s largest listed property company, and the Public Sector Investment Corporation (PIC) representing the Government Employees Pension Fund, for R9,7bn.

The new owners have announced that they plan to spend between…

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People’s Power in an Ancient City

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Who hasn’t been transfixed and moved by the scenes over the past 18 days on Cairo’s Tahrir (Liberation) Square – the brave resistance to a tyrannical regime, hopes dashed when the dictator refused to go, the celebrations and joy when he finally left?

How appropriate for us in South Africa that Mubarak’s resignation…

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Defending public space – let’s get our act together on Table Mountain

This morning we helped to open up new public space – the 15km dedicated West Coast cycle route. At the same time, given a recent spate of attacks, we are unfortunately losing valuable public space on Table Mountain to criminals.

The Cape Times put it well in an editorial this morning: “In many…

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Follow the Red Road: Cape Town successfully launches West Coast commuter cycling lane

I was up bright and early this morning to take part in the launch of Cape Town’s first serious dedicated commuter cycling lane – a 15km stretch that runs from Table View to the CBD. It follows the red road of the IRT system, which is due to be launched…

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Move over New York High Line, here comes the new floating London river park

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Have a look at this innovative proposal for people to regain access to the River Thames in London.

The idea by Gensler Architects to build a 1,6km long floating river walk/ park along the north bank of the River Thames recently won the Mayor’s Award for ‘Planning Excellence’ at the 2010 London…

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Get down to the Park

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I’m starting off 2011 (better late than never) with a big `thumbs up’ to all who have been involved in creating the new Green Point Park. It’s an amazing experience, with opportunities for recreation, education, exercise, picnics, children’s parties, perambulation and much more.

What is particularly exciting is that the park…

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