CARFREE TOKYO

- a collection of notes and reflections on urban living from the perspective of a family of five in Tokyo. My epiphany was many years ago, but being hit by a motorbike and seeing my life flash before my eyes caused a sudden change that slowly made me reflect on whether American style auto-centric urban transportation of the Roosevelt era really is a capital G "Good Idea" for civilized modern cities in the 21st Century. This blog explores the good and the bad in urban planning and design, here and elsewhere. The goal is simple - not "death to all cars," just more walkable communities, quiet tree-lined streets, good public transport, traffic calming, Velib style bicycle sharing and a bit of common sense. The bolg is mostly theraputic, so I don't go wanting to throttle every dangerous driver I come across, but partly also out of a real desire to see positive change. This blog explores how it can be done, the people who do it, and how, in many small ways, this very old idea may at last have found its zeitgeist. Comments and suggestions welcome.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Transportation Alternatives - Tokyo Style

New York City organization Transportation Alternatives is making a big difference in NYC.


Full of sensible ideas and commentary from sensible people, and interestingly, they really seem to be making a difference, fighting back against autopolitics on behalf of both pedestrians and cyclists.
Please contact me if you are interested in setting up a similar organization here in Tokyo. Once we can get a reasonable size group of like minded people together, we can get organized and make things happen here too. There are cycling groups already, but I think we need something wider than this.
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