Screening: CONTESTED STREETS - BREAKING NYC GRIDLOCK

The German Marshall Fund of the United States , in cooperation with Smart Growth America and the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, cordially invites you to a wine and cheese reception and screening

“CONTESTED STREETS - BREAKING NYC GRIDLOCK”

Thursday, September 13th 2007
5:30 - 7:30 pm

The screening will be followed by a discussion with

Wiley Norvell
Communications Director and Volunteer Coordinator, Transportation Alternatives

CONTESTED STREETS explores the history and culture of New York City streets from pre-automobile times to the present. This examination allows for an understanding of how the city - though the most well served by mass transit in the United States - has slowly relinquished what was a rich, multi-dimensional conception of the street as public space to a mindset that prioritizes the rapid movement of cars and trucks over all other functions. Central to the story is a comparison of New York to what is experienced in London , Paris and Copenhagen . Interviews and footage shot in these cities showcase how limiting automobile use in recent years has improved air quality, minimized noise pollution and enriched commercial, recreational and community interaction. London 's congestion pricing scheme, Paris ' BRT (bus rapid transit) and Copenhagen 's bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are all examined in depth. New York City , though to many the most vibrant and dynamic city on Earth, still has lessons to learn from Old Europe.

RSVP by September 12 to Ellen Pope at GMF or 202-745-6674.
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And if you're gonna be in Brooklyn this weekend, check out this exhibit (which I missed):

Livable Streets in Brooklyn
by Transportation Alternatives, Project for Public Spaces and The Open Planning Project

June 20, 2007 - August 31, 2007