Irek Faizullin attends a lecture delivered by world expert in urban planning Enrique Penalosa

Today, one of the world's leading experts in urban planning and studies Enrique Penalosa delivered in Kazan. The lecture was attended Rustam Minnikhanov. Also the lecture of the ex-mayor of the Colombian capital of Bogota, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Transportation and Development in New York was attended by Tatarstan Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing Irek Faizullin, members of the Government of Tatarstan, members of the Executive Committee of Kazan, architects and other specialists.

Yesterday, Enrique Penalosa met with the President of Tatarstan, as well as made a tour of Kazan.

According to Enrique Penalosa, a comfortable city is one of the basic conditions for people to feel happy. At the same time, economic growth does not make a city comfortable. On the contrary, it is a comfortable environment that can make a city economically successful by attracting people.

“In a good city people want to go to public places. In terms of good urban design, a good city is one where it is pleasant to walk around”, he said.

According to the expert, urban environment should be convenient and comfortable for all the residents, regardless of their wealth; the rich and poor should be able to enjoy the benefits, which is especially important for cities where high levels of social inequality.

However, the environment for people is in conflict with the environment for vehicles, and here, according to Enrique Penalosa, pedestrians’ interests should be protected. Modern approaches in urban studies provide wide pedestrian areas by reducing roads, parks arrangement, and other elements of the public space. “Forcing pedestrians to leave the ground is a sign of disrespect”, said Enrique Penalosa.

Quays are particularly important to create a comfortable environment, as said by Enrique Penalosa, because they are real treasures of cities that make people happy. As noted by the expert, the quays, firstly, should not be private with the access should be open to everybody, and secondly, there should not be motor roads nearby.

According to Enrique Penalosa, walks should not be replaced by shopping centers. Instead of shopping malls people should strive to attend pedestrian areas, including those with numerous small shops. People with limited revenue will feel good even in the “expensive” pedestrian street unlike in most prestigious shopping malls.

It is important to create a comfortable environment for pedestrians next to every building, and the first floors should be attractive to visit, as said by Enrique Penalosa. Places near buildings must not be occupied by car parking.

The expert also touched upon the issue of transport. According to Enrique Penalosa, the construction of broad highway and interchanges in cities does not solve the problem of traffic jams, but only attracts more cars, thus creating new traffic jams. Instead the highways Enrique Penyalosa proposed to build wide boulevards where pedestrians would have the advantage, and cited the example of the Champs-Elysees in Paris. This 10-lane street has wide sidewalks, numerous ground pedestrian crossings with traffic lights, and pedestrians do not feel discriminated.

Together with limited car traffic the authorities should create good conditions in public transport. Dedicated bus lanes are increasingly being implemented around the world, even in cities that have a developed underground system.

“The issue of mobility is a question of how road space is shared.  Technically and in terms of social equality, it is important to give priority to bus traffic”, said Enrique Penalosa.

“Road space is the most valuable thing in the city”, said the expert. “And its distribution is not a technical decision. This is absolutely a political issue”, he added.  

According to Enrique Penyalosa, the creation of bikeways is also of equal importance. Even now the expert saw people going by bicycle, and therefore this form of transport will be in demand. A bikeway is a symbol of social equality, because a man on a bicycle for 30 dollars has the same rights as a driver of a car for 30 thousand dollars.

 “Good city is not a city where even the poor go by car, but the one where even the rich go by public transport or bicycle”, summed up Enrique Penalosa.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov agreed that the construction of new interchanges and roads is a measure that can only temporarily solve the transport problem. “We agree that there should be a comfortable urban space, lots of green areas and quays”, said the President of the Republic of Tatarstan.

He asked Enrique Penalosa what activities the authorities of Kazan should do first.
As stated by Enrique Penyalosa, the most important thing is to avoid urban development broad wise. It is essential to build up the city closer to the center for people to get to either end of Kazan by public transport. The historic city center is the real treasure of the capital of Tatarstan.

In order to create comfortable living conditions, it is necessary to arrange dedicated lanes for public transport and convenient pedestrian areas. “And you should not be afraid of traffic jams as they will reduce the use of cars”, said Enrique Penyalosa. “But at the same time the loss of parking spaces must be accompanied by the emergence of wide sidewalks for people to see what they get in return”, he added.

Today and tomorrow, Enrique Penalosa will read a number of lectures for specialists and students of urban planning industry.