Jan Gehl: People-Friendly Cities Are Cheap & Easy

"Nothing in the world is more simple and more cheap than making cities that provide better for people," said Jan Gehl, founding partner of Gehl Architects, in an interview this week.

Gehl, the renowned proponent of people-friendly cities and public spaces, spoke about progress in New York, Copenhagen, and Moscow, in making cities about people, instead of cars.

"They have started to humanize Moscow, having been inspired very much by what has happened in New York," he said, noting that there's a strong will there now to create a livable city for people.

However, Gehl still laments that the "people-scale" isn't getting the attention it deserves, and too many cities are focusing their planning around cars.

"We are much smarter now in the 21st century than they were 50 years ago, but many cities still are lumbering around in the 20th century paradigm... thinking they'll be twice as happy if they have twice as many cars," said Gehl. "The truth is, generally you will not be twice as happy but will have twice as many problems."