Architect Ian Gehl speaks on new approaches in urban space use in Almaty

"Your city is very green, with lots of trees. Here you have wide streets, it's great because they allow you to organize good sidewalks, bike paths, tram tracks and accommodate vehicular traffic. You have a very good potential to balance the transportation system", said Ian Gehl. He shared his vision of how to make the city more attractive and comfortable for living and called for new approaches to rational planning and use of urban space, in particular by reducing the number of cars and parking lots.

In turn, Mayor stressed that in Almaty there was a large-scale work for unloading of transport arteries and promoting the bicycle as an alternative means of transport. Only in the last five years sales of bicycles in Almaty has increased six times, there are workshops for their repair. An important role in the conception of Almaty, focused on the comfort and convenience of citizens, will be given to underground parking, and the share of municipal participation in public transport will be half of the total.

Mr.Yesimov and Mr.Gehl have agreed to cooperate with a view of the ideas tested in the largest cities of the world to be realized in Almaty.