Streetfight. Handbook for an urban revolution

More about the book

As New York City's transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan transformed the streets into dynamic spaces safe for pedestrians and bikers. Her effective approach involved simple yet impactful changes, such as painting parts of the street to create plazas or bus lanes, which enhanced safety, reduced congestion, and increased foot traffic, benefiting local businesses. By understanding how to read the street, she demonstrated that functionality could be improved without complete reconstruction, merely by reallocating existing space. The book illustrates, with step-by-step visuals, how to rewrite the fundamental design of a street, offering guidance on adding protected bike paths, enhancing crosswalks, and implementing visual cues to curb speeding. Achieving this radical transformation was challenging, and the narrative reveals the battles Sadik-Khan fought to implement her vision. It also showcases how this innovative approach has influenced cities worldwide, from pocket parks in Mexico City and Los Angeles to more pedestrian-friendly streets in Auckland and Buenos Aires, as well as bike-lane designs in Austin, Indianapolis, and San Francisco. Many of these changes draw inspiration from New York City's initiatives. The work invites readers to reimagine the streets in ways they never thought possible.