Jean-Christophe Mortreux – Public Space

What things you enjoyed the most about your experience this week?

We had an extremely active weekend, seeing friends and family. And it was a blast because we were able to watch wonderful shows for free in a public park in our neighborhood and talk with friends on a nearby street that was opened to cycling and pedestrians while we watched the kids learn to bike. All these activities have super low carbon footprints and are made possible thanks to great public space.

What were the main challenges you faced during the week?

I didn’t put enough emphasis on finding plant based deserts. Of course, there are fruits, plant based ice creams, etc. But finding plant based pastries is still rare. I have plenty of pastry stores at walking distance from my place, but non offer plant based or low carbon options. I’ve found some in the past, but I look forward to the day when it’s more common.

What were your main lessons learned of the week?

Great public spaces are a necessity to enjoy a low carbon life. Quality parks, playgrounds, pools, shows, etc. that everyone can enjoy, ensures that high carbon infrastructure is amortized and enjoyed by many.

What would have made it easier for you to achieve your target this week?

Heavy car traffic & routine careless driving means we are consistently worrying about the kids getting hurt or worse. This means the kids lose a lot of their autonomy and space to enjoy life outside the house. Reclaiming urban space from cars is a great way to promote quality low carbon lives.