A reminder to all of my urbanism friends on here that are excited about new streetscapes, less cars, etc—while it’s great to see progress on a more human-centered urbanism, there is more we need to be talking about than sidewalk restaurants and to-go cocktails.

Our cities are deeply inequitable, and we need as much or more energy on basic, infrastructural change as we do on small-scale urban street interventions.

Your brains understand cities. Use them to start solving for systemic inequities.

Please also remember that while bikes and restaurant patios are great, they are not accessible for more people, either economically or physically. Chronically ill folks are trapped at home. Bikes are only a tiny bandaid for systemic transit inequity.

*most people—typo in previous tweet.

I love placemaking and bikes more than most people, so I get why it feels exciting to see changes being made. But we can’t just focus on these tiny wins. They leave too many people behind.

If you understand complexities of planning, zoning, transit, remember that you are in a position to do work that matters. And start shifting your lens. Follow Black + disabled activists. Follow trans women. Follow POC. Find ways to connect your learnings to your urbanism.

If you have been waiting to find your place in this moment of change and revolution, it can be very simple. Learn new things from voices that are often suppressed in urban and economic processes, and rebuild your work around those learnings.