a few months ago I visited family in the States it was late June and it was
States it was late June and it was
States it was late June and it was beautiful sunshine pretty much every day
beautiful sunshine pretty much every day
beautiful sunshine pretty much every day no living in the UK I know you have to
no living in the UK I know you have to
no living in the UK I know you have to appreciate every bit of sunshine you can
appreciate every bit of sunshine you can
appreciate every bit of sunshine you can get but I spent an infuriating amount of
get but I spent an infuriating amount of
get but I spent an infuriating amount of time stuck in a box I was stuck in a box
time stuck in a box I was stuck in a box
time stuck in a box I was stuck in a box for the three miles to my sister’s house
for the three miles to my sister’s house
for the three miles to my sister’s house I was stuck in a box for the mile and a
I was stuck in a box for the mile and a
I was stuck in a box for the mile and a half to the supermarket I was stuck in a
half to the supermarket I was stuck in a
half to the supermarket I was stuck in a box for the less than a mile journey to
box for the less than a mile journey to
box for the less than a mile journey to the town center and that’s when it
the town center and that’s when it
the town center and that’s when it dawned on me just how much I missed
dawned on me just how much I missed
dawned on me just how much I missed getting around by walking and by bike
getting around by walking and by bike
getting around by walking and by bike because I could see the outside world
because I could see the outside world
because I could see the outside world through glass but there was no
through glass but there was no
through glass but there was no connection there was no interaction and
connection there was no interaction and
connection there was no interaction and lots of us are suffering from the same
lots of us are suffering from the same
lots of us are suffering from the same disconnect even though we’re closer to
disconnect even though we’re closer to
disconnect even though we’re closer to each other than ever before 81.5% of us
each other than ever before 81.5% of us
each other than ever before 81.5% of us in the UK live in an urban area
in the UK live in an urban area
in the UK live in an urban area according to the 2011 census globally
according to the 2011 census globally
according to the 2011 census globally more than half of us live in urban areas
more than half of us live in urban areas
more than half of us live in urban areas and how we shape those urban spaces
and how we shape those urban spaces
and how we shape those urban spaces matters because despite being surrounded
matters because despite being surrounded
matters because despite being surrounded by people four out of five of us report
by people four out of five of us report
by people four out of five of us report being lonely some of the time one in ten
being lonely some of the time one in ten
being lonely some of the time one in ten report being lonely very often and
report being lonely very often and
report being lonely very often and two-fifths of older people say that
two-fifths of older people say that
two-fifths of older people say that television is their main form of company
television is their main form of company
television is their main form of company loneliness has a profound impact on our
loneliness has a profound impact on our
loneliness has a profound impact on our mental health and on our physical health
mental health and on our physical health
mental health and on our physical health it has the mortality risk equivalent of
it has the mortality risk equivalent of
it has the mortality risk equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day and the
smoking 15 cigarettes a day and the
smoking 15 cigarettes a day and the spaces around us shape the number of
spaces around us shape the number of
spaces around us shape the number of social connections we can have and
social connections we can have and
social connections we can have and that’s important a comprehensive review
that’s important a comprehensive review
that’s important a comprehensive review by Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya
by Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya
by Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz in 2009
Sen and Joseph Stiglitz in 2009
Sen and Joseph Stiglitz in 2009 showed that social connections have a
showed that social connections have a
showed that social connections have a greater impact on our well-being than
greater impact on our well-being than
greater impact on our well-being than any other factor they also showed that
any other factor they also showed that
any other factor they also showed that children thrive more and schools fail
children thrive more and schools fail
children thrive more and schools fail less in areas where neighbors know each
less in areas where neighbors know each
less in areas where neighbors know each other but we do know our neighbors less
other but we do know our neighbors less
other but we do know our neighbors less in 2010 we knew half the number of
in 2010 we knew half the number of
in 2010 we knew half the number of neighbors as we did in 1982 in addition
neighbors as we did in 1982 in addition
neighbors as we did in 1982 in addition our karlitz society is leading to a
our karlitz society is leading to a
our karlitz society is leading to a obesity and inactivity epidemic in the
obesity and inactivity epidemic in the
obesity and inactivity epidemic in the UK two-thirds of men and three-quarters
UK two-thirds of men and three-quarters
UK two-thirds of men and three-quarters of women are not meeting the recommended
of women are not meeting the recommended
of women are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity so what’s
levels of physical activity so what’s
levels of physical activity so what’s the solution right now I want you to
the solution right now I want you to
the solution right now I want you to picture an urban setting that encourages
picture an urban setting that encourages
picture an urban setting that encourages connection got it what you’re picturing
connection got it what you’re picturing
connection got it what you’re picturing now is most likely a livable space maybe
now is most likely a livable space maybe
now is most likely a livable space maybe you were picturing a busy square or a
you were picturing a busy square or a
you were picturing a busy square or a park maybe it was a pedestrian high
park maybe it was a pedestrian high
park maybe it was a pedestrian high street with lots of outdoor seating or a
street with lots of outdoor seating or a
street with lots of outdoor seating or a residential road where neighbors
residential road where neighbors
residential road where neighbors actually talk to each other
actually talk to each other
actually talk to each other a livable space is one that has been
a livable space is one that has been
a livable space is one that has been designed or redesigned for people to
designed or redesigned for people to
designed or redesigned for people to connect and interact with each other and
connect and interact with each other and
connect and interact with each other and with their surroundings and creating
with their surroundings and creating
with their surroundings and creating these livable spaces is essential for
these livable spaces is essential for
these livable spaces is essential for urban living not just because it
urban living not just because it
urban living not just because it addresses a wide range of problems but
addresses a wide range of problems but
addresses a wide range of problems but because it’s what people want in the UK
because it’s what people want in the UK
because it’s what people want in the UK among those aged 20 to 29 the rates of
among those aged 20 to 29 the rates of
among those aged 20 to 29 the rates of those with a full driver’s license has
those with a full driver’s license has
those with a full driver’s license has been dropping since the mid 90s one
been dropping since the mid 90s one
been dropping since the mid 90s one third of that group don’t have a license
third of that group don’t have a license
third of that group don’t have a license among those aged 16 to 19 to thirds
among those aged 16 to 19 to thirds
among those aged 16 to 19 to thirds don’t have a license and it’s not just
don’t have a license and it’s not just
don’t have a license and it’s not just younger people the AARP
younger people the AARP
younger people the AARP an organization for retired people in
an organization for retired people in
an organization for retired people in America have a new livability index
America have a new livability index
America have a new livability index when they measure the best cities that
when they measure the best cities that
when they measure the best cities that they want to recommend and they do that
they want to recommend and they do that
they want to recommend and they do that by looking at mixed-use neighborhoods so
by looking at mixed-use neighborhoods so
by looking at mixed-use neighborhoods so housing and businesses are close and you
housing and businesses are close and you
housing and businesses are close and you can get to the shops access to different
can get to the shops access to different
can get to the shops access to different transport options rather than just the
transport options rather than just the
transport options rather than just the car and they even look at surveys of how
car and they even look at surveys of how
car and they even look at surveys of how many neighbors people interact with but
many neighbors people interact with but
many neighbors people interact with but that’s not a description of most places
that’s not a description of most places
that’s not a description of most places up to 80% of our public open space in
up to 80% of our public open space in
up to 80% of our public open space in cities is the road network and most
cities is the road network and most
cities is the road network and most streets nowadays aren’t places where
streets nowadays aren’t places where
streets nowadays aren’t places where people means to trade to gather to play
people means to trade to gather to play
people means to trade to gather to play anymore most of that happens behind
anymore most of that happens behind
anymore most of that happens behind closed doors or from behind a computer
closed doors or from behind a computer
closed doors or from behind a computer screen livable spaces lead to better
screen livable spaces lead to better
screen livable spaces lead to better connected residents an urban designer
connected residents an urban designer
connected residents an urban designer named Donald Appleyard studied streets
named Donald Appleyard studied streets
named Donald Appleyard studied streets in the 1970s that were the same apart
in the 1970s that were the same apart
in the 1970s that were the same apart from the amount of traffic that went
from the amount of traffic that went
from the amount of traffic that went through them he looked at which
through them he looked at which
through them he looked at which neighbors knew each other where they met
neighbors knew each other where they met
neighbors knew each other where they met to chat and how they felt about their
to chat and how they felt about their
to chat and how they felt about their local area in areas of heavy traffic
local area in areas of heavy traffic
local area in areas of heavy traffic there are fewer gathering points and far
there are fewer gathering points and far
there are fewer gathering points and far fewer people knew their neighbors cars
fewer people knew their neighbors cars
fewer people knew their neighbors cars cut the street and – but even in area on
cut the street and – but even in area on
cut the street and – but even in area on the same side of the street you didn’t
the same side of the street you didn’t
the same side of the street you didn’t have the same connection in areas of
have the same connection in areas of
have the same connection in areas of light traffic there’s a tangle of
light traffic there’s a tangle of
light traffic there’s a tangle of connections neighbors know each other
connections neighbors know each other
connections neighbors know each other they have relationships and as you
they have relationships and as you
they have relationships and as you increase the number of those
increase the number of those
increase the number of those relationships you decrease the risk of
relationships you decrease the risk of
relationships you decrease the risk of loneliness and isolation and creating
loneliness and isolation and creating
loneliness and isolation and creating these livable streets doesn’t have to
these livable streets doesn’t have to
these livable streets doesn’t have to mean bulldozing everything and starting
mean bulldozing everything and starting
mean bulldozing everything and starting from scratch and it can happen from
from scratch and it can happen from
from scratch and it can happen from right outside your front door play
right outside your front door play
right outside your front door play streets give residents the chance to
streets give residents the chance to
streets give residents the chance to close their streets to traffic for a few
close their streets to traffic for a few
close their streets to traffic for a few hours on a regular basis they have
hours on a regular basis they have
hours on a regular basis they have temporary livable spaces DIY streets
temporary livable spaces DIY streets
temporary livable spaces DIY streets gives that power permanently residents
gives that power permanently residents
gives that power permanently residents work with sus trans officers to redesign
work with sus trans officers to redesign
work with sus trans officers to redesign the street how they want it places to
the street how they want it places to
the street how they want it places to gather to play or just to cross safely
gather to play or just to cross safely
gather to play or just to cross safely they look at different options and then
they look at different options and then
they look at different options and then they make one permanent liveable spaces
they make one permanent liveable spaces
they make one permanent liveable spaces are essential for this kind of work
are essential for this kind of work
are essential for this kind of work now Appleyard also found that the area’s
now Appleyard also found that the area’s
now Appleyard also found that the area’s people feel ownership over increased as
people feel ownership over increased as
people feel ownership over increased as traffic decreased livable spaces also
traffic decreased livable spaces also
traffic decreased livable spaces also make us better connected to our local
make us better connected to our local
make us better connected to our local areas and that’s not just true of
areas and that’s not just true of
areas and that’s not just true of residential streets
residential streets
residential streets time after time studies have shown that
time after time studies have shown that
time after time studies have shown that after pedestrianisation of shopping
after pedestrianisation of shopping
after pedestrianisation of shopping areas more people make more trips they
areas more people make more trips they
areas more people make more trips they linger longer places feel safer and if
linger longer places feel safer and if
linger longer places feel safer and if you’re looking for a direct economic
you’re looking for a direct economic
you’re looking for a direct economic benefit those who walk in cycle to get
benefit those who walk in cycle to get
benefit those who walk in cycle to get there often spend more overall young gal
there often spend more overall young gal
there often spend more overall young gal a Danish architect studies these livable
a Danish architect studies these livable
a Danish architect studies these livable spaces from pedestrian our streets to
spaces from pedestrian our streets to
spaces from pedestrian our streets to public squares by Counting the number of
public squares by Counting the number of
public squares by Counting the number of people in them and noting what they do
people in them and noting what they do
people in them and noting what they do people who stay who sit who chat and
people who stay who sit who chat and
people who stay who sit who chat and window shop and meet up with friends use
window shop and meet up with friends use
window shop and meet up with friends use that space to interact livable spaces
that space to interact livable spaces
that space to interact livable spaces also make us better connected to the
also make us better connected to the
also make us better connected to the local environment a recent study by the
local environment a recent study by the
local environment a recent study by the University of Exeter in Hokkaido
University of Exeter in Hokkaido
University of Exeter in Hokkaido University showed that people benefit
University showed that people benefit
University showed that people benefit most when they live in cities that have
most when they live in cities that have
most when they live in cities that have large parts complemented by trees
large parts complemented by trees
large parts complemented by trees planted along streets and a network of
planted along streets and a network of
planted along streets and a network of small local green spaces now in addition
small local green spaces now in addition
small local green spaces now in addition to being around nature lower traffic
to being around nature lower traffic
to being around nature lower traffic volumes also encourage people to spend
volumes also encourage people to spend
volumes also encourage people to spend more time outside and the benefits of
more time outside and the benefits of
more time outside and the benefits of spending that time outside include
spending that time outside include
spending that time outside include increased creativity and memory and
increased creativity and memory and
increased creativity and memory and reduce stress levels livable streets
reduce stress levels livable streets
reduce stress levels livable streets will bring those benefits right to our
will bring those benefits right to our
will bring those benefits right to our front doors
front doors
front doors not to mention by increasing walking and
not to mention by increasing walking and
not to mention by increasing walking and cycling rates
cycling rates
cycling rates we reduce the risk of heart disease type
we reduce the risk of heart disease type
we reduce the risk of heart disease type 2 diabetes osteoporosis anxiety
2 diabetes osteoporosis anxiety
2 diabetes osteoporosis anxiety depression certain types of cancer and
depression certain types of cancer and
depression certain types of cancer and if we increase the rates of walking and
if we increase the rates of walking and
if we increase the rates of walking and cycling in urban areas in the UK it
cycling in urban areas in the UK it
cycling in urban areas in the UK it would save the NHS an estimated 17
would save the NHS an estimated 17
would save the NHS an estimated 17 billion pounds in 20 years what can we
billion pounds in 20 years what can we
billion pounds in 20 years what can we do about it as individuals get outside
do about it as individuals get outside
do about it as individuals get outside the more people who use these spaces
the more people who use these spaces
the more people who use these spaces mean that more people will use these
mean that more people will use these
mean that more people will use these spaces so walk and cycle in your
spaces so walk and cycle in your
spaces so walk and cycle in your neighborhoods use parts use public
neighborhoods use parts use public
neighborhoods use parts use public squares improve the area right outside
squares improve the area right outside
squares improve the area right outside your front door
your front door
your front door whether that means improving your front
whether that means improving your front
whether that means improving your front garden putting one pot on a windowsill
garden putting one pot on a windowsill
garden putting one pot on a windowsill or litter picking and how many of you
or litter picking and how many of you
or litter picking and how many of you know the names of the people who live on
know the names of the people who live on
know the names of the people who live on your street get to know your neighbors
your street get to know your neighbors
your street get to know your neighbors you don’t have to travel very far
you don’t have to travel very far
you don’t have to travel very far they’re your neighbors figure out what
they’re your neighbors figure out what
they’re your neighbors figure out what your walkin zone is pick a comfortable
your walkin zone is pick a comfortable
your walkin zone is pick a comfortable distance for you 10 15 20 30 minutes and
distance for you 10 15 20 30 minutes and
distance for you 10 15 20 30 minutes and walk in that radius of your home what
walk in that radius of your home what
walk in that radius of your home what are you missing out on if you want to
are you missing out on if you want to
are you missing out on if you want to get involved as a group you could set up
get involved as a group you could set up
get involved as a group you could set up a street gardening scheme you can help
a street gardening scheme you can help
a street gardening scheme you can help plant trees you can have a street party
plant trees you can have a street party
plant trees you can have a street party or set up a regular play Street or you
or set up a regular play Street or you
or set up a regular play Street or you could work with your local government to
could work with your local government to
could work with your local government to redesign the street to better suit you
redesign the street to better suit you
redesign the street to better suit you and your neighbors now since coming back
and your neighbors now since coming back
and your neighbors now since coming back from the state’s I felt so much more
from the state’s I felt so much more
from the state’s I felt so much more appreciative of the connections that I
appreciative of the connections that I
appreciative of the connections that I have I psych I cycle into work and I’m
have I psych I cycle into work and I’m
have I psych I cycle into work and I’m not at the same car mechanic every
not at the same car mechanic every
not at the same car mechanic every single morning on the way home if I pass
single morning on the way home if I pass
single morning on the way home if I pass by a friend’s I can stop and have a chat
by a friend’s I can stop and have a chat
by a friend’s I can stop and have a chat with them and catch up I know my
with them and catch up I know my
with them and catch up I know my neighbourhood more I have more
neighbourhood more I have more
neighbourhood more I have more connection with that I know where
connection with that I know where
connection with that I know where there’s apple trees I talked to my
there’s apple trees I talked to my
there’s apple trees I talked to my neighbors I
neighbors I
neighbors I rubbish when I’m walking and I even can
rubbish when I’m walking and I even can
rubbish when I’m walking and I even can hear birdsong all without being stuck in
hear birdsong all without being stuck in
hear birdsong all without being stuck in a box thank you
a box thank you
a box thank you [Applause]
”
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