When PPS returned to London on June 5 for its second UK training course in the past seven months, we saw a very different city than the one we visited in November. The main reason for the sudden change is the success of the new congestion charges, which have reduced traffic in London by 20 percent since they took effect. This victory for pedestrians and transit riders (part of the revenue from the congestion charge will fund transit improvements) is typical of the commitment to quality public spaces being made throughout the UK. While in town for the training course, PPS President Fred Kent and Vice President Kathy Madden met with three of the agencies that are spearheading this new approach: The Prince's Foundation, CABE Space, and GreenSpace (see sidebar for links).
Here are some visual highlights from the trip:
This pedestrian bridge linking the Tate Modern and St. Paul's Cathedral was a pleasant surprise and received a good amount of foot traffic.
The GLA Building: There may be many important innovations in this building, but when you see it for the first time, it is very dreary and dull. It also seems so minor a building for such a grand city.
Talk about power to the pedestrian! This cafe-lined sidewalk seems to swallow up the adjacent parking spaces.
Hyde Park is a vast green space not without its faults, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a park with better birds.
This street vendor seems to have an entire grocery store stocked on his cart... a much bigger selection than we're used to seeing in the US.
An old favorite, Covent Garden is one of the best "festival marketplaces" in the world.
