How Women Transform Cities

Last week, I attended a fantastic book launch featuring a presentation by the authors Melissa and Chris Bruntlett. “Women Changing Cities” was the title of both the book and the event, and the discussion centred on urban developments, accessibility, inclusion, and the effects of climate change on us and our cities. They shared examples from across the world of cities that took the pandemic as an opportunity to transform their urban spaces:

• Montreal was among them with its car-free streets in summer.

• Mexico City closes its main road every Sunday (50km+) to make space for cyclists, runners and pedestrians.

• Bogotá has become one of the leading cities for urban cycling in South America.

• Manila closed its public transit system during COVID and opened bike lanes.

• Paris has made significant efforts to increase green spaces, add more bike lanes, and reduce the number of car lanes.

These initiatives impact not only women, but all of us. They make a city more accessible to pedestrians, children, people with disabilities, older people and cyclists, while also making it more climate-friendly. However, many of these initiatives are based on the advocacy and leadership of women such as Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, or Mujeres en Movimiento, an initiative led by eight (former) female transport ministers and vice ministers from Latin America. Let's take a look at a Canadian city that has grown greener under female leadership.

Picture from the Presentation

Canadian Spotlight - Montréal

Montréal has adopted many new, green initiatives in recent years. This progress can be attributed, in part, to Mayor Valérie Plante, who has significantly influenced Montréal’s urban development. She arrived at City Hall with a commitment to creating a greener city, enhancing mobility, and promoting pedestrian-friendly public areas. In 2017, she made history by becoming Montréal's first female mayor.

Over the past eight years, she expanded the city's cycling network, introduced traffic-calming measures to improve safety for pedestrians, expanded the public transit system, and added more green spaces to the city, including Canada's largest urban park, the Grand Parc de L'Ouest (and yes, it's bigger than Stanley Park, I verified it ;)).

In a recent interview with CBC, Plante expressed her hope that her legacy will be a greener Montréal, and she might become known as the Mayor of Sponge Parks. :) These are green spaces, also referred to as green infrastructure, that naturally manage and absorb excess rainfall and help reduce flooding. As of mid-2025, Montreal has seven sponge parks and many more in planning.

Valérie Plante

My Personal Experience

Urban transformation and transportation have always intrigued me, and during the presentation, I started to think about my personal experiences with public transit, urban spaces, and shared mobility. Having grown up in Switzerland, using various modes of transportation is part of my DNA. I walked to primary school, biked to secondary school, took the train to high school, and used the tram to get to university. Even though I now live far from Switzerland and have to fly to visit, I heavily depend on shared and public transportation when exploring a country. Here are a few examples:

• Biking in one of the craziest cities with no traffic rules on a regular Thursday afternoon: Mexico City by bike was definitely an experience, but it was worth it and a great and efficient way to move around.

• But you know which city felt crazier? London. Biking on the other side of the street, while traffic and buses pass inches away from you, was terrifying. And I'm not one to get scared easily when I'm on my bike.

• In Madrid and Rome, we used the Lime scooters. Nothing made me feel freer than cruising on a scooter through Rome on a hot summer evening in July.

• In Amsterdam, the global capital of cycling, I truly embraced the real Dutch cycling culture and transported a wedding cake by bike. The bride asked us to pick it up, and since we were on the road by bike, there was no alternative. I played it cool, but I knew the responsibility I was carrying. :)

• In Switzerland, I usually spend most of my vacation money on train tickets, but it’s the easiest and most convenient way to travel. Sipping a latte while crossing the country? A very peaceful experience.

Then there’s Vancouver, my second home. A city that takes great pride in its public transit system, and rightly so. It has multiple SkyTrain lines (metro), extensive bus service and increasing shared mobility options such as bikes, scooters and cars. For a North American city, Vancouver does very well, and it is currently expanding the system by adding two more extensions, which I personally find fascinating to follow.

However, Vancouver, and cities like it, for example Seattle or Portland, would benefit from comparing themselves not just against other North American cities (many of which are still behind in creating walkable, low-emission neighbourhoods), but against global leaders like Amsterdam or Paris. Not all people will be happy with the changes a city implements, but the data from cities like Paris shows that there are large improvements in air quality and overall livability.

From Inspiration to Action

So here’s what we all can do, no matter where you are on this planet to play a role when it comes to our urban spaces:

1. Reclaim your streets: Take part in or advocate for car-free days, street closures for pedestrians, or pop-up parks. Even a small local initiative can shift perceptions about what urban spaces are for.

2. Support inclusive design: Cities work better when they work for everyone. Support projects and policies that consider safety, accessibility, and equity — from better lighting to wider sidewalks to protected bike lanes.

3. Choose active transport: Walk, cycle, or take public transport whenever possible. Small, consistent choices add up and send a message to city planners about demand for sustainable mobility. In Vancouver, we have a lot of shared mobility options - Evo Car Share, Mobi Bikes, Modo, or Lime.

4. Elevate women’s voices: Join or promote women-led urban projects, community design sessions, or advocacy groups. Representation shapes reality — and women’s experiences bring essential perspectives on care work, safety, and belonging.

5. Pay attention to local wins: Every city has small-scale transformations happening quietly. Share them. Celebrate them. Change starts locally but spreads globally.

I really enjoyed writing this article, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. I hope it inspires you to become more aware of the urban space in your city and to explore the available mobility options.