Cities hold a special fascination. They promise a high quality of life with opportu­nities for work, education, culture and leisure. They allow people to interact and exchange views.
As new, faster modes of transport emerged, cities spread into the surrounding countryside. Cars became a universal means of transport and opened up the possibility of almost unlimited personal mobility. They became a symbol of freedom. After the Second World War, many cities were rebuilt to be more car-friendly: Market places were turned into car parks, public spaces became increasingly unsuitable for interaction, neighbourhoods were dissected by roads; noise and air pollution make people ill, car parks make housing more expensive, and there is not enough space for playgrounds. Nevertheless, most people cannot imagine living without a car.

Whereas cars once made for livelier cities, the nature of traffic today is incompatible with living well in the city. Many cities are trying to clean up their act with a wide range of concepts, from introducing a congestion charge, creating so-called “superblocks” where cars are banned, to reducing the number of parking spaces for cars, expanding pedestrian zones and creating bicycle boulevards.

What role does techno­logical innovation play, and how can changing our behaviour make a difference? Do we even need a new economic order? The question we should really be asking ourselves is, how do we want to live in the city in the future?