For more inclusive urban design we need to listen to the kids

摘要

Following the announcement of the general election my 10-year-old asked me why she wasn't allowed to vote, writes Jonny Anstead. 'It's my future too,' she said. She had a point: children have little voice when it comes to the decisions that will fundamentally affect their lives for good or bad. If young people are disenfranchised by our politics, the same may be said regarding our built environment. Children have seen their independence and freedoms progressively eroded over generations. We fear for our children more than ever, and with good reason: we've given cars free rein over our urban environment, requiring our children to navigate extraordinary perils daily. Little wonder childhood diseases associated with air quality and inactivity are on the rise.