Strong Towns is a nonprofit media advocacy organization. They produce content that analyzes the failures of the post-war North American development pattern while giving citizens the knowledge and tools to start making their places better. They advocate for more people-friendly places that foster interaction; transportation options that are safe, affordable, and often human powered; and infrastructure that enhances rather than menaces surrounding neighborhoods.
Many European communities enjoy these features. And guidebook author, tour operator, and PBS travel host Rick Steves has spent decades exploring the cosmopolitan capitals and lesser-known backroads of Europe. So they asked him to describe the lived experience in places that have prioritized people over cars and infrastructure.
Key takeaway: Europe wasn't always this cool. Says Rick: "I was just in Warsaw and 70 years ago, there was not a building standing. And today, Warsaw is a thriving city, with a great public transportation system, nowhere near as wealthy as we are, but they have built that city from scratch. And it just reminds me we are not stuck with what we've got."
Article: Rick Steves: What Americans Can Learn From Europe’s People-Friendly Places
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