Automobile Quote by Enrique Penalosa
“We had to build a city not for businesses or automobiles, but for children and thus for people. Instead of building highways, we restricted car use. We invested in high-quality sidewalks, pedestrian streets, parks, bicycle paths, libraries; we got rid of thousands of cluttering commercial signs and planted trees. All our everyday efforts have one objective: Happiness.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Urban Planning Vision, 2010
Cities should prioritize people, especially children, over cars and commerce, creating walkable, green, and joyful environments.
In simple terms: Design for people, not profit.
Key Takeaway
Build walkable, green cities.
Themes
urban design
public health
environment
community
happiness
Mood
optimistic
inspirational
Type
visionary
policy
When to use this quote
- city redevelopment
- traffic reduction
- public space creation
- community health initiatives
Key Concepts
human-centered planning
sustainable mobility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you measure happiness in city planning?
- What trade‑offs are acceptable for greener streets?
A Different Perspective
Balancing economic growth with livability can be politically tough.
![“A premise of the new city is that we want a society to be as egalitarian as possible. For this purpose, quality-of-life distribution is more important than income distribution. [And quality of life includes] a living environment as free of motor vehicles as possible.” quote by Enrique Penalosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6dd/enrique-penalosa-32010_cities_a-premise-of-the-new-city-is-that-we-wan_2357839.jpg)
