! Mixed land use makes fior as be~responsibleforreducingcrime rates in travel with all its beneficial consequences.

; the CIty. In Europe, Barcelona and Copenhagen When more adults are employed and spend
spatial economic sense have provided citywide bicycle networks, less money and time on travel they give more
i ' reduced space for cars on roads, revitalised city attention and facilities to their children. A sure
~

! Dinesh Mohan squares, pedestrianised large sections and prescription for a happier and better educated
i encouraged local restaurants. In Melbourne, youth. Demolishing slums and sending poor peo-
1 At about the same time professional~ in Delhi Australia, a new heart was created for the pIe to the periphery of the city can only have ex-
1 were fmalising the First Master Plan for the city city by increasing housing in the city centre, actly the opposite results and encourage forma-
i in the early 1~, Jane Jacobs published her book, moving university faculties to attract young tion of criminal gangs amongilisaffected teenagers.
i The Death and Life of Great American Cities. people to the centre, and adding and improving Optimal policies for mixed land use cannot
! Morethan40yearslater,whiletheDelhiUrban publicspaces. comewith detailedprescriptionsfor what
; Arts Commission was holding discussions on the Where does this lead us? Certainly n,ot to slum people can do behind four walls of their
i future of Delhi and bulldozers were demolishing demolition, sealing of businesses and into the properties, and where. This just promotes
r slums and destroying unauthorised structures, jaws of bulldozers. We have to realise that inspector raj accompanied with all its exter-
i Jane Jacobs passed away in Toronto in April2lXX3. concepts of garden city and strict zoning have nalities. Monitoring should be continuous and
~ Her death went almost unnoticed in India, proved counterproductive and unenforceable. out in the open. This is possible if we make laws
; though her scathing critiques of expressways in Cities are living organisms, and like all living about how activity inside a building affects neigh-
~ cities and strict zoning laws have bours outside. We should not
; strongly influenced the thinking of really care about what someone
i urban planners all over the world does inside - whether he runs
; for more than a generation. an office, shop, restaurant or a
i The Death and Life of Great banquet hall. In any case, this
; American Cities questioned the can be hidden. However, if we
; concept of sprawling suburb.s' have stringent laws to control the
; which she showed killed inner effect of these activities on the
1 cities and discouraged the growth neighbourhood, then we might get
i of safe and economically active an efficient self-organising system.
i neighbourhoods that develop We have to set standards for
1 organicall~ A strong proponent parking on streets, price it and
i of mixed land use, she further make arrangements for punishing
! explored these ideas in books such defaulters. Scientific methods can
~ as The Economy of Cities and be put in place to meacSurepollution
i Cities and the Wealth of Nations. and noise on the streets, and res-
i Her ideas have strong support- ponsibility for surveillance given
; ers around the world, and cities toRWAs,contractorsorNGOswith
i that are admired today incorporate most if not organisms thrive on plurality of experience, suitable safeguards. Traffic-calming methods to
; all of her prescriptions. In North America, these self-organising structures and innovation. reduce speeds can be introduced in all neigh-
i cities would include Portland (Oregon) and Monoculture, artificial drugs, stress on a few bourhoods to promote safety of children.
! Vancouver (Canada) that have discouraged organs and favouring one limb over another If we bring regulation out in the open it can
i building of fast highways inside the cit~ put leads to disease and cancer. How do we translate be enforced in a transparent manner. Owners of
; constraints on vehicular traffic, and encourage these thoughts to promotion of vibrant cities? businesses and offices will locate themselves in
i local small businesses and public markets. In People of all incomes have to be brought areas where they can easily and profitably
; South America, the most talked about cities centrestage in the concept of mixed land use. It conduct their trade. Visitors to a wedding in
; a,re Curitiba and Bogota, that rejected plans for is only when rich and poor neighbourhoods a banquet hall located in a'residential area
i building. a metro years ago and introduced the are placed cheek-by-jowl that we encourage will arrive in buses or taxis and have a quiet
i concept of bus rapid transit which is being efficiency in job opportunities, transport ceremony. Small neighbourhood restaurants
! emulated by dozens of cities the world over. management, energy conservation, pollution that do not pollute, make noise, or need
i Bogota has also built over a hundredkilometres abatement and crime reduction. With this kind parking will make our lives more colourful
! of bicycle tracks and provided air-conditioned of land use all members of a poor family can and fuIf'llling.
i libraries for young people in poor neighbour- walk or cycle to work and maximise employment It is time to move away from use restrictions
! hoods and p?rks and public facilities all over. opportunities in richer people's homes and to performance criteria.
~ Some analysts point to these developments offices. This reduces demand for motorised The writer is with lIT Delhi.