explore | Grilled Cheese

I think this ranking needs some #urbanism voices! Casted votes for @tomflood.bsky.social, @brenttoderian.bsky.social, @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social, @streetfilms.bsky.social & @mbonsma.bsky.social so far. Which urbanists do you feel are the most influential on Bluesky? CC #BikeTO #BikeSky #WalkTO #TTC

In the politest possible way & in a spiffing British accent, I'd just like to say... #cycling #waroncars #justbikes #urbanism #cyclingphotos

7/7
That’s the decline I mean: not cities collapsing, but cities slowly losing the habit of looking after themselves. Building something once isn’t investment forever. A functioning city needs maintenance every bloody day. #Urbanism #Maintenance

6/7
I don’t think London, Paris or Amsterdam are simply “declining”. They’re changing and investing. But investment isn’t just construction. It’s ongoing maintenance. Cleaning, repairing, repainting and replacing things has to happen continuously. #Cities #Urbanism

4/7
But here’s the really weird part: even some of the NEW stuff isn’t being maintained properly. Brand-new public spaces get dirty. Landscaping gets neglected. Paving deteriorates. Street furniture gets battered. We build it, then forget it. #Urbanism #Maintenance

2/7
It’s the old city that’s declining. Pavements, buildings, railings, signs, street furniture and public spaces increasingly look tired. We’re good at announcing new projects, but seem increasingly bad at looking after what already exists. #Urbanism #Cities

1/7
I’ve been to Amsterdam, Paris and London countless times over the last decade. There is a decline, but it’s weird. These cities are still building constantly. Cranes everywhere. New developments. New infrastructure. Yet something is being lost. #Cities #Urbanism

Since August 2022:
39 episodes. 45 guests. Global perspectives. One mission: Better Cities.

In my anniversary article, I reflect on what we’ve learned—and where the conversation goes next.

#Urbanism #FutureOfCities

@benhuser Good example of how much public space cars keep for themselves in cities!

#urbanism @TheWarOnCars