Biking Toward Better Cities

Urban mobility advocates Melissa and Chris Bruntlett shared the potential of reimagined spaces and sustainable  transportation at the Jan. 20 Building Blocks Talks event at Goshen Theater

Celebrated Dutch Canadian authors and urban vitality and mobility advocates Melissa and Chris Bruntlett—co-authors of three books, including “Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality” were the featured speakers at the January 20 edition of the Building Blocks Talks series in Elkhart County.

The free series, presented by the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau (ECCVB), the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition, and weIMPACT, presents insightful, expert speakers to share inspiring stories of community development. Inside the Goshen Theater, in front of an enthused crowd of approximately 100 attendees, the Bruntletts shared their message of reimagining streets, public spaces, and transportation modes to result in more urban vitality and more mobility options for people of all ages in cities throughout the world.

From local advocates to global leaders

Longtime mobility advocates in Vancouver, Canada, Melissa and Chris moved to Delft, the Netherlands, in 2019 with their two children, Leo and Etienne. Since then, the couple has built upon their local advocacy to become global proponents for urban vitality, sustainable transportation, and happier, healthier, more human-scale cities.

In Goshen, the couple extolled the virtues of increased mobility options and incremental change in the way cities are designed.

“The concepts we are sharing tonight for creating urban vitality and alternative mobility options can be applied in cities of all sizes,” said Melissa Bruntlett, the founder of Modacity Creative, an independent consultancy that works with advocates, professionals, and leaders to bridge the gap between creative thinking and behaviour change. “Things won’t change right away, but one drop becomes two becomes a whole ripple effect. What we’ve seen is that, in the Netherlands, they’ve managed to create environments designed for human beings as opposed to environments designed for cars, and it has had an enormously positive impact on Dutch society.”

Less reliance, greater freedom of movement

In the Netherlands, young, elderly, disabled, and low-income people who do not drive or cannot afford a vehicle have the chance to continue to fully participate in society and enjoy all of its benefits thanks to an extensive network of safe, dedicated paths and trails connecting cities and reducing the need for reliance on automobiles.

“One thing you will immediately notice in the Netherlands is the amount of free-range kids and free-range seniors out on their bikes,” added Chris Bruntlett, the International Relations Manager at the Dutch Cycling Embassy, a public-private partnership that shares the best knowledge and expertise from the Netherlands with cities around the world. “In the Netherlands, it’s a source of inspiration that people of all ages have options with which they can be the owners of their own modes of mobility. Kids, seniors, the disabled, and the low-income—who, so often, have to rely on others for transportation—have freedom and autonomy of movement, which in turn allows them improved access to healthcare, employment, and education. More cycling transportation is good on so many levels; it improves public health because folks are outside and moving more, and there is greater social cohesion and connectedness when people actually see each other and interact out on the streets—as opposed to being behind glass in their cars.”

In Elkhart County, home of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, the discussion—which focused on the ways inclusive transport and improved public spaces can create thriving communities—was relevant and of interest to many.

“We had a good turnout, it was about what we were expecting because the discussion of sustainable transportation is something that affects everyone in Elkhart County,” said Brittany Short, director of the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition. “A lot of people came tonight for a lot of different reasons to learn more about the many ways we can improve urban vitality and create more sustainable transportation options for our citizens, now and into the future. There were people in the crowd from local government, city staff, cyclists, and park advocates, and it was wonderful to host the Bruntletts and hear about their experiences and learn from their expertise.”

Urban mobility should be a ‘child-led’ movement

Near the end of the evening’s presentation, Chris Bruntlett—in response to an audience question—reiterated that the couple’s agenda is not to eliminate cars, car trips, or everything automotive.

“Half of all car trips in America are under three miles,” said Chris Bruntlett. “Consider that for a moment. We’re not advocating the elimination of all cars and car trips, but the idea is for cities to provide safe, alternative options. At least fifteen percent of those car trips under three miles could be eliminated, and that only happens when cities put in work to increase and improve cycling networks, urban vitality, and alternative forms of transit.”

The Bruntletts, who also co-authored “Curbing Traffic” and “Women Changing Cities,” consider their message a global mandate and have traveled as far as China, India, and Latin America, and further share their platform through speaking engagements and an extensive online presence.

Chris Bruntlett stressed that, at the end of the day, the push for sustainable transportation should be a ‘child-led’ movement designed to give young people freedom and autonomy to move for themselves.

“We’ve seen this new phenomenon emerge over the past several years, with parents as chauffeurs who are just constantly having to transport their children from one place to another,” said Chris Bruntlett. “In places of the world that support alternative and sustainable transit, kids can experience the freedom and autonomy of traveling for themselves. In turn, that can liberate parents from their modern-day taxi driver role. In many ways, our goal is to reimagine how we can create child-friendly cities and give freedom and autonomy of movement back to those who would otherwise remain reliant on someone else.”

For more information, visit the Building Blocks Talks landing page.