E22 Our Transportation Infrastructure Privileges People With Power

 

Beth Sanders and Luis Patricio discuss bicycles to explore mobility and privilege in cities. With his first realization in Brazil that a bicycle IS a means to move around the city, Luis started advocating for a bike-to-work program at work. Bicycling has become a part of his identity and a full part of his paid and unpaid work to improve cities. Some simple questions to unpack mobility privilege: Who owns cars in our city? Who owns bicycles in our city? And who has access to bicycle infrastructure?  

NOTE to listeners: there's a bit of "office noise" a few minutes into the episode. It doesn't last long. (A bit later, there's some kitchen noise, but it also does not last long. Eeek) 

Luis Patricio believes that our capacity to understand, shape and communicate urban experiences is key to creating the cities we want. Bicycles are one of the most powerful tools to develop that capacity—a capacity he calls Urban Literacy.  

Luis uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for collaboration and connection in his role as project manager for the SDG Cities project at Pillar Nonprofit Network in London, Canada. He is also the board chair of London Cycle Link, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to create a bike-friendly London through community building, education and advocacy. You can learn more about Luis at luispatricio.ca. 

Resources

Here's the article Beth and Luis refer to in their conversation: Who Has A Right to the City? 

Here's a list of resources from Luis for further exploration:

Reflection

  • Think about the trips you make in your city or community—is movement by car a must or preferred? Is the infrastructure in place to provide you with other options

  • Which areas of your city are primarily centred on movement by car? Who are the people for whom this works well? Who are the people who are disadvantaged by this priority? 

 
Beth Sanders