Oct 17, 2013
Janette Sadik-Khan, head of New York City’s Dept. of Transportation, has a combination of gifts rare in a public official: she is conversant in the most sophisticated ideas in her field; and she knows how to get things done. Actually, that pair is rare in just about everybody. Thus equipped, she transformed our streetscape, introducing pedestrian plazas, bike lanes, bus rapid transit, and bike share, thereby improving the health and safety and – as important -- increasing the happiness of New Yorkers. More than technical changes, she brought us a revolution in thought: that the streets are not just conduits to move cars; they’re public space to be used for the benefit of all.