[THREAD: On moving people, not cars]
1/ I recall my own "conversion" from the moving cars to the moving people perspective in public transport.
It was uncomfortable. I had to admit that whenever I rode a private car, I was slowing down other commuters who took public transport.
1/ I recall my own "conversion" from the moving cars to the moving people perspective in public transport.
It was uncomfortable. I had to admit that whenever I rode a private car, I was slowing down other commuters who took public transport.
2/ My riding a car slowed down the poor: 88 percent of households cannot afford a car. My riding a car also slowed down other cars. My riding a car slowed down EVERYONE.
3/ I had to admit I was wrong. That I made a mistake. That my earlier view of measuring traffic as the flow of cars, and not as the flow of people, was anti-poor.
4/ Perhaps if I were brought up in the time of Galileo, I would have been one of the first ones to balk at his 'scientific' idea that it was the earth that revolves around the sun, and not the other way around.
This radical shift in perspective is what is needed today.
This radical shift in perspective is what is needed today.
5/ It is NOT an easy thing to change one's mind. It is a slow, messy process that needs the support of a community.
But what persuaded me?
- Patient conversations with friends.
- Positive feedback from a community of walkers, cyclists, commuters in How's your byahe, bes?
But what persuaded me?
- Patient conversations with friends.
- Positive feedback from a community of walkers, cyclists, commuters in How's your byahe, bes?
6/ ...What persuaded me?
My friend who sounded the alarm about the health risks of not having protected bike lines and walkways in the time of a pandemic - for frontliners, for workers, for fellow commuters.
My friend who sounded the alarm about the health risks of not having protected bike lines and walkways in the time of a pandemic - for frontliners, for workers, for fellow commuters.
7/ ... What persuaded me?
Seeing for myself that areas that had better walking and cycling infrastructure had much cleaner air, much healthier people, and much better qualities of life.
Seeing for myself that areas that had better walking and cycling infrastructure had much cleaner air, much healthier people, and much better qualities of life.
8/ We are asked in this time to journey together with our decision makers in this painful, messy process of changing our points of view.
As we communicate the prime importance of active transport in our cities, let us remember our own journeys of persuasion.
As we communicate the prime importance of active transport in our cities, let us remember our own journeys of persuasion.
9/ Let us use these lessons as we dialogue with our leaders in this important turning point in our country's public transport history.
#MoveAsOne
#ProtectedBikeLanesNOW
#Biyahenihan
#MoveAsOne
#ProtectedBikeLanesNOW
#Biyahenihan
