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Lauren McAskie

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I love talking to passionate CityChangers from around the world, hearing their stories and what drives their activism, then writing up guides for others to get inspired by. There's only one thing that could top a car-free city for me, and that's one made out of chocolate... but a girl can only dream. In the meantime, I'll work on making the first come true.

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Car-Free

From Emissions to Edens: Our Top 5 Car-Free Urban Transformations

Lauren McAskie - February 1, 2021

Our cities have been constructed almost entirely around private cars. But what's happening now? Cities are realising that infrastructure for motor vehicles in urban areas often leaves them looking grey, industrial and not very liveable places for people. Keep reading to find out how highways are now being transformed...

Car-Free

The World on Your Doorstep: The 15-Minute City and Why We Should Be Creating It

Lauren McAskie - January 26, 2021

A 15-minute city is simply a place where all basic amenities are available within a short journey by foot or bike. But what is the idea behind it, what does it mean for reducing the dominance of the car, and could it be the solution to the complex mobility...

Car-Free

Perspectives on the 15-Minute City: How to Turn a Utopia Into a Reality

Lauren McAskie - January 26, 2021

You may have already heard of the concept of a ’15-minute city’, but what do urban planners really think about the feasibility of making cities time-scaled, is this mere design fantasy, or is this the future of sustainable mobility? The Challenge The philosophy behind the 15-minute city is a simple one:...

Car-Free

Infrastructure for Car-Free Cities: The Challenge

Lauren McAskie - January 18, 2021

The idea of a ‘car-free’ city sounds pretty straightforward… just ban the cars, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. Several challenges stand in the way of reducing car dominance in cities and building the infrastructure to accommodate it. Keep reading to find out what the real barriers are...

Car-Free

Lessons From Amsterdam’s Agenda – Taking “Car-Lite” to the Next Level

Lauren McAskie - January 18, 2021

In 2018, the city government of Amsterdam formulated the "Amsterdam Agenda Autoluw" which aims to push the city towards a "car-lite" vision, increasing city space for pedestrians and cyclists. But how have they taken what is already a non-car-dependent city to the next level, and how has the standard been...

Car-Free

“Healthy Streets Everyday” Keeps the Cars Away: How a London Project Is Transforming Urban Neighbourhoods

Lauren McAskie - January 18, 2021

What are the 10 evidence-based essential ingredients for a "healthy street", and how can you make sure yours tick all the boxes? What Are "Healthy Streets"? The Healthy Streets approach, developed by public health and transport specialist Lucy Saunders, is a system of policies and strategies designed to deliver healthier, more inclusive streets...

Car-Free

Let’s Re-Design to Go Back in Time: How to Re-Purpose Car Space for People

Lauren McAskie - January 18, 2021

Our cities are car-obsessed. The result? Urban space that is invaluable and useless most of the time because it only serves one purpose: a place for cars to park. But have you ever stopped to think how we could be up-cycling high rise or on-street car parking for better...

Car-Free

How Oslo Hit Reverse On Its City Street Parking and Revived City Life – and How Your City Can Too

Lauren McAskie - January 18, 2021

Oslo is one of the world leaders when it comes to going car-free. Its downtown city area is now almost completely free of cars. But how did this city manage to succeed in getting rid of private vehicles in its innermost urban areas, and what are the key takeaways...

Car-Free

London’s Road to Recovery: Car-Free After COVID

Lauren McAskie - January 15, 2021

On deciding how to emerge from the global pandemic, London announced it was going to build back a healthier and safer city by making drastic improvements to its walking and cycling infrastructure. It now hopes to create the biggest car-free zone in the world - but what has London...

Car-Free

How to Build a City for Women – and Why Cars Take a “Back Seat” in Feminist Urban Planning

Lauren McAskie - January 15, 2021

Have our cities really been built with gender bias in their design? How did this happen, what does a "feminist" city really look like, and how can a female perspective in urban planning be imperative to creating liveable, sustainable and happy cities? Every day we make choices about how we...

Car-Free

Getting Over Our “Car Crush”: How to Encourage Sustainable Commuting In the Workplace

Lauren McAskie - January 15, 2021

Commuters are one of the key target groups when it comes to encouraging more active modes of transport – so what can be done by employers and large companies to encourage their employees to ditch their cars and choose to walk, cycle or e-scoot to work? The sound of angry...

Car-Free

Car-Free to the Finnish Line: Tips From Helsinki’s Smart Mobility Trials

Lauren McAskie - January 15, 2021

In May 2020, Finland concluded its three-year "Last Mile" smart mobility project which aimed to provide innovative smart mobility solutions for tourists, residents and commuters in the Helsinki metropolitan region. But what was actually tried and tested, what lessons were learnt along the way and what can other cities...

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