This course empowers you to create sustainable, equitable, and playful cities that enhance community well-being. Drawing from global case studies and innovative urban strategies, participants will explore how to prioritize active transportation, equitable access to public spaces, and sustainable mobility through bold policy and design interventions. People constantly look for magical solutions, which do not exist. A ‘magic pill’ is to be physically active 30 minutes daily (children 60) for 5 or more days per week. The only way for large groups of population, everywhere, is to walk or bike as a normal part of everyday life. Outside on the streets is good, near trees, better, on trails, priceless. By focusing on practical solutions like protected bike lanes, slow streets, and vibrant public spaces, this course equips professionals with the tools to transform cities into healthier, happier, and more inclusive environments for all ages and abilities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop Strategies for Equitable Urban Design: Understand the importance of designing cities to address equity issues, particularly in underserved neighborhoods, by ensuring access to high-quality public spaces, safe mobility options, and essential services like parks and healthy food sources to reduce disparities in life expectancy and quality of life.
2. Integrate Active Transportation into Urban Planning: Apply principles of active transportation, such as walking and cycling, by prioritizing the development of protected bike lanes, safe sidewalks, and slow streets to enhance physical and mental health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
3. Promote Sustainable Mobility through Policy and Infrastructure: Formulate policies and design infrastructure that support sustainable mobility, including 20 mph speed limits in neighborhoods, connected networks of bike lanes, and enhanced public transit systems to reduce car dependency and improve air quality.
4. Enhance Community Well-Being through Playful and Accessible Public Spaces: Design and implement public spaces, such as parks, trails, and schoolyards, that are accessible to all ages and abilities, fostering social interaction, physical activity, and community engagement through programs like open streets and bike buses.
5. Advocate for a Shared Vision and Bold Action in Urban Development: Create and champion a shared vision for cities that prioritizes proximity, density, and nature integration, using the “8 and 80” rule to ensure urban environments are safe and joyful for children and older adults, driving transformative change through policy and community action.