Walk21 NYC: World Pedestrian Leaders Take Manhattan

With all the recent, remarkable livable streets improvements to the streets of New York City, it's no surprise the 10th annual, Walk21 Conference chose us for its host digs. Visitors and attendees were treated to a cornucopia of pedestrian street infrastructure to salivate over and debate; including tours of the recently opened High Line to a special visit to the soon-to-be-restored High Bridge. Featuring a plethora of speakers, design charrettes and walking workshops, the three-day event drew experts from the UK, Austria, Japan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Italy, and Australia, just to name a few.

We were able to speak with the organizers and as well as conference registrants, and also got to a chance to chat with some of those on the marquee such as Jan Gehl (Gehl Architects, Copenhagen), Janette Sadik-Khan (Commissioner, NYC Department of Transportation), Kristina Alvendal (Vice Mayor of Stockholm) and Gil Peñalosa (Walk and Bike for Life, Ontario), about the future of walking and the vital importance of this conference in inspiring world leaders.

http://www.livablestreets.com/people/Jessica Jessica

Was such an amazing conference in an amazing city - didn't want it to end!
http://bikemiamiblog.wordpress.com Kathryn Moore

An epic walkshop/bikeride/conference/party. It was great to meet so many of the LivableStreets people- thanks for the video. (posted!)
http://c-d-g.org Matty Lang

Did I see a crane shot in there? Nice work Clarence.
http://www.nyu.edu Jacqueline Haeflinger

As one of the NYU Planners it was very exciting to be part of this conference event. I was enlighted by the committment of individuals from cities accross the world that have researched, created and continue to show passion towards Walking and giving the streets back to pedestrians. I now see how wonderful and exciting being part of urban planning is. Kudos to all of you!!
http://dhaka-rickshaw.blogspot.com/ syed saiful alam

Green activists protest at move to build market in playground

Green activists along with cultural and sports personalities formed a human chain on Saturday, protesting at the move to construct a market on a playground at Mirpur of the Dhaka city.

Save the Environment Movement and Barnak Samaj Kalyan Krira O Sangskritik Angan jointly organised the human chain programme on the playground, Laal Maath. Noted folk singer Kuddus Bayati rendered a good many songs highlighting the importance of sound environment

Local people including students of different school and colleges joined hands with the green activists and vowed to save the playground from the land grabbers. Lawmaker Elias Uddin Molla, SEM chairman Abu Naser Khan, Barnak Samaj Kalyan president Mahmud Hasan Khan, general secretary Jafrul Hassan, footballer Imtiaz Sultan Jony and actor Manzur Hossain attended the programme.

They called on the authorities concerned to take immediate measures for stopping the work of constructing a vegetables market on the playground. The Barnak Samaj Kalyan president and general secretary threatened to launch tougher movement if the work is not stopped immediately.

Extending his support to the demand, Elias Molla said, ‘We will resist the move to construct the market on Laal Maath. ’ He also assured that all necessary steps would be taken to remove all the structures erected on the playground by next month.

Abu Naser Khan said a vested quarter earlier had tried to occupy the playground. But the local people with the help of green activities foiled the move.

Syed Saiful Alam

Member of Central committee
Save the Environment Movement
Dhaka, Bangladesh

http://dhaka-environment.blogspot.com/2009/11/green-activists-protest-at-move-to.html
http://www.livablestreets.com/people/shovan1209 Syed Saiful Alam

With a few simple steps, we could make Dhaka more livable. The first step is to change our priorities, by emphasizing access, not mobility, short rather than long distance travel, children, not cars, and livable environments, not just transport. “We need a model in which happiness, rather than consumption levels, is the measure of success.”

syed saiful alam
shovan1209@yahoo.com

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