San Francisco Great Streets Project

Enrique Peñalosa is at it again- in San Francisco this time. Peñalosa set out as mayor of Bogota, Columbia and drastically improved the city from the slums it had once been. His ways of improving the city were to curb car use, promote transit and cycling, and increase public space. San Francisco has attracted Peñalosa to promote their campaign: the Great Streets Project. The goal of the project is to promote “a successful network of places will return our city’s streets to their rightful place as the center of civic life, making our city a great place to live, do business and visit.”

A street in Bogota that benefited from Penalosa's policies, where the sidewalks became more pedestrian friendly and attractive

Tonight Peñalosa will speak in San Francisco about creating this vision and putting it into practice.It was mark the launch of the Great Streets Project.

“Valet bicycle parking provided,” according to the website, http://sfgreatstreets.wordpress.com/.

Campaigns like this are slowly changing the way we live by reducing our dependence on oil (both domestic and foreign), improving the environment (air quality, oil runoff in sewers, built and social environments in public spaces), and reducing overall costs while further promoting the local economy.

More than sidewalks or bicycle paths, we built symbols of equality and respect for human dignity. – Enrique Peñalosa

Max Stember-Young, Rutgers University Student Intern, Vertices LLC