pedestrian spaces, recycling Traffic 
Shortly after New York and Costa Rica, I was in Turin, l a city of my family. The truth is that lately I have not stopped, so I have both re Traso with Articles Links must be found. 
the weekend I was coincided with the feast of the Environment. I do not know if it or simply because the weather was good, but I saw many people on bicycles and s around the Po River. first thing I visited was the area of \u200b\u200b" The Crocetta." I was surprised to see some play areas for children from both block of flats. The appearance was ba stant sadder than the playgrounds of New York, but the fact that no cars ubiera h the games was extended on the asphalt, giving the area a more improvised character.
then spent by the University, with large green areas and graffiti care. But I went quickly because a university on Sunday (free people) not funny ...
During the trip I saw several types of sidewalks, stone, asphalt (As in New York) and even grass. 
Approaching the river Po, I see activity on a sunny Sunday, but also by the party of the Environment, had canoe races. edges of the river were filled with booths, "murazzi" are called, that were originally stands for ission approved of goods through the river, and 10 years ago were transformed to welcome the public Torino and tourists. local people now wonder if you are not missing a bit the charming character of area, inspired by the remodeling of the Seine in Paris, to promote tourism. 
Entering the space center Vittorio Veneto, the most important, I noticed a large central void of the plaza and the arches that were full of people walking and taking advantage of antique market. These are the things that Jan Gehl analyzed in his book "humanization of space" (Life Between buildings ): how people appropriate the urban spaces, in particular, how they prefer to be at the edges of squares orbservar to that happens, instead of in the center and be seen. Of course, in this square things change at night and during public events, is filled to the brim! 
Another of the places I visited is the Valdo Fusi, the square of contention. The design of this plaza came a contest will be discussed with the residents and came out winning the draft Topotek . But that was done was to Buro Kiefer, the least liked. Take impartiality! Why always just talking about places in discord? is that public space is generated, we must face ell o. (real image left Topotek draft right) 
A associa ation is c defendant shortly after the remodeling inaurgurar 2005, to protest the project and the selection process, and try to propose something new. Is in Italian and English, but you can watch some of that goes to the track. There are other ways to explain the different plans for the plaza, as the alternative page Stalker. In others, there's even a skatepark .
Finally, I leave you with several photos of people on bicycles. I would think that this happens only on Sundays the environment ...
Turin, New York Giant To continue with the American experience, I was also struck in New York traffic is not as chaotic as you can imagine. 
As I said in my previous post on NYC, the difference between the north-south avenues and east-west streets are clear. The streets are quiet, green and narrow. In the case of trafficking also note the difference. On one side are wide, tree-lined sidewalks and secondly, the amount of traffic, perhaps evolving into low and slow traffic (bicycles).
In fact, the bicycle traffic is improving a lot, mainly in Manhattan, with bike lanes, information, and help pages online. Jan Gehl already told the conference that I was a few months ago. This plane with aid for cyclists is in all places where there are bike rentals, the same system Villo in Brussels or Vélib 'in Paris .
In addition to the streets, bike paths and pedestrian areas, sidewalks are very well executed ... but not everyone agrees with the theory that asphalt sidewalks are better (quick implementation, uniformity, flatness .. .). But rtante impossible is that being wide, pedestrian them sit quietly in front of a traffic eminently "trucks" whether the garbage (which appear to tanks), the loading and unloading and the cars themselves, many s on 4x4.
But that said, to despite the "trucks" across the street is easy: all are one-way streets, the pedestrian always know where they might come across cars and quiet. For cyclist, the information is not needed.
Far from all this bustle, though ordered, we found an oasis that plan so ber our heads: the High Line . This oasis is actually a park built on a former railway line that was used for the transportation of goods to Chelsea and Meatpacking district, butchers enterprise zone. We talked about this park article I wrote for This is a plaza listing examples of performance and local control.
what else I can say about this park that has not been said already ... So soon I will tell you that it was the locals who fought for 7 years to recover the tracks ( then converted on a big plot with grass) instead of demolished, to make a place of public interest. A great vision, a great example and a very interesting park.
is not yet completed, was opened in June 2009 , but only the first part. few weeks ago, almost birthday the first piece, was granted permission to retrieve the next piece . I'll come back to see the rest ...
Humanization , New York 
The month of May have not stopped. I had to go to Costa Rica and said, as I stop in New York, so I get off! but several technical problems and cancellations, the journey has been longer and more complicated, hence the weeks that I have taken to recover and get ready for all the experiences described.
I divided the articles by subject, I will try spinning and regroup. This first post is to tell you what I have called the attention of New York: that urban space is very human! 
qu Avenues North and go South are large, but once you cross the street, going east-west, the skyline is reduced and the tree-lined street. Of course this does not happen in all of Manhattan, but largely. All the "village" are as follows: East Village , Lo wer East Side, Greenwich Village, immigrant neighborhoods (China, Italy ...)...
I was looking for gardens of Green Guerillas on the Lower East Side, which I told you when I spoke of the shared gardens Paris and article I wrote on This is a place . But I found a whole network of parks, gardens and playgrounds for children that I could not believe I was in the middle of the peninsula more dense (the world?)!
Best of all, is that all these spaces are managed by the council, but cared for by neighbors. The association that runs it is Green Thumb, Green Thumb, cuya homóloga en Paris es Mano Verde. Una de las frases que más se lee en la web americana es la de reforzar las comunidades locales. Que los vecinos se conozcan, compartan, cu iden (y vigilen, que no hay que olvidar que son americanos) el espacio público. Son 20.000 personas organizadas en una web, y sus derivadas. Ya quisiéramos para Esta es una pl aza...
Nueva York parecía una ciudad europea. Casas bajas (máximo 8 pisos, pero allí parece poco) calles anchas (que reducen más el tamaño de los edificios) árboles en toda la calle, y muchos rincones sit. We New York that is not to live "in passing" . I am not referring to immigrants who stay, but the number of opportunities to relax opportunities.
And though has said that the parks and the area "human" are mainly in the village, the area of \u200b\u200bmore skyscrapers will not fall short of initiatives. A part of Broadway is a pedestrian , between Calle 42 and 47 and not just what is lacking is furniture. Vale cars can continue to cross the East-West Avenue, but the atmosphere encouraged enough to take a break, is an appropriate space. Chairs and tables are to appropriate them, are not fixed to the ground. Some will say that Spain would not last two days, but with police directing traffic so I know not. And with the mentality they have.
much the message is passed on to appropriate the public espaco. Take care, no mess, and implications for management. Broadway chairs are well so that users are grouped together as they want. Planters, steps, stairs, sidewalks, curbs and other street furniture invite you to sit. I would like Sol Square .
Just a curious picture: the famous mouths Fire not follow the same stream:
