When cities are built with women in mind, they become more liveable for everyone. A fairer planning approach that promotes a universal right to access the city, and considers every aspect of human life, from infancy to elderly; not just those in the so-called productive stage. youtu.be/uAsRoa5_jXw

"Now is the time to stop thinking of nature as 'nice to have' and at the bottom of the priority list in urban infrastructure development. We must see it as an essential aspect of providing health, well-being, and other multiple benefits to the people who will live, work and go to school in cities."

In her latest book ‘Women Changing Cities’, Melissa Bruntlett explores how an auditing app is letting residents in Delhi score streets for safety, combatting violence against women and offering lessons for cities worldwide. #ZagConnected Read more: zagdaily.com/connected/ho...

Feelings of unsafety profoundly impact how we all move through the city and access opportunity. But a citizen-led app is empowering Indian women to take back their streets—auditing lighting, seating, walkability and visibility—and help planners address these problems systematically. bit.ly/4kl5JhH

What do Paris, Montreal, Barcelona and Brussels have in common? “If you look at the cities doing the most to reclaim public streets from the automobile and give it to people, they often have one thing in common, and that's strong female leadership.” @thewaroncars.bsky.social LISTEN: bit.ly/3MdP82L

How can we ensure every person moves freely and safely through their entire journey—from first mile to last? This introductory toolkit is a resource for designers, planners and policymakers seeking to integrate gender-inclusive mobility into their processes. www.genderinclusivemobility.com/toolkit

Every great project should starts with a great story! In January Melissa co-led a ThinkBike workshop for the @dutchcycling.nl that got participants thinking about the users of the space, what they valued, and how to best communicate with them. Read more: modacitycreative.com/2026/02/02/s...

After fifteen months of intensive reconstruction, the historic Amsterdamsestraatweg in Utrecht has emerged as a markedly greener, safer and more inviting urban thoroughfare—a physical testament to the city’s evolving transport priorities and ambitions for liveability, safety, and economic vitality.🧵

De Fietsersbond verwelkomt elk jaar veel nieuwe leden. We organiseren daarom een kennismakingsbijeenkomst; dit jaar op woensdagavond 11 februari. Ook leden en mensen die overwegen lid te worden zijn van harte welkom. Dit jaar is Melissa Bruntlett @modacitylife.com te gast! #denhaagfietst

In this talk, we explore how designing cities around people—not just cars—can create more inclusive, connected and vibrant communities. We highlight how thoughtful transport planning and public spaces foster empathy, accessibility and sustainability for all ages and abilities. youtu.be/NRd94n2I6Mc

A reminder the work of a cycling city is never "done": after a decade of intensive usage, the bike parking facility beneath Delft Station has been thoughtfully renewed. All 5,000 spaces were replaced, and the building reimagined to reflect the latest insights and best practices from Dutch Railways.🧵

NEW BONUS EPISODE: We shared the stage with @modacitylife.com to talk about their new book, "Women Changing Cities." Why are so many of the cities that are doing the most to reclaim space from the automobile led by women? Become a Patreon supporter for full access: www.patreon.com/posts/149174...

Traffic jams, unsafe streets, growing inequity, cities built around cars instead of people... ➡️ It’s time for change! On Tuesday 3 February, we’ll be hosting an event at Amsterdam’s Pakhuis de Zwijger to talk about our book 'Women Changing Cities'. 🎟️ Free entry, reserve your spot: lnkd.in/eJRpjuhv

“Two billion autonomous cars would continue to sprawl around us, drain our wallets, pollute our cities and limit our freedoms. They distract from meaningful progress, making cities walkable, livable and improving transit. In foregrounding them we continue our bondage to the car-industrial complex.”

Seven years in Delft, countless trips across the globe, and nothing compares to the feeling of coming home to a city where cars are guests, not the guests of honour.

“Only 25 of the world’s 300 largest cities have female mayors. A tiny 5% of municipal leadership positions are filled by women. Despite these figures, many of the cities that are making the most progress to become greener, cleaner, more equitable and liveable are led by women.” READ: bit.ly/4rbmcHu

Our book Women Changing Cities has won @eiturbanmobility.eu's Publication of the Year! This recognition means so much—not just for our hard work, but for the inspiring women whose stories of authority, creativity and tenacity fill its pages. Here’s to women changing cities—one bold step at a time.

The third and final stop on our U.S. tour landed us in snowy Elkhart, Indiana, who welcomed us with warm hearts and freezing cold temperatures. Huge thanks to Vibrant Elkhart County for hosting, and to everyone who braved the winter weather to join us for a fun night at the gorgeous Goshen Theater.

Some snapshots from a beautiful evening with @thewaroncars.bsky.social and @modacitylife.com at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables!! We hope these photos reflect the optimistic energy you could feel throughout the room. ✨

In the heart of Austin, a fragmented and underused waterway is being reborn as Waterloo Greenway, a 1.5-mile linear park that, when complete, will stitch together 35 acres of landscapes, trails, cultural sites, and community spaces from 15th Street to Lady Bird Lake—all along historic Waller Creek.🧵

1/ Every 14 days the subscribers of my weekly newsletter have the pleasure to listen to inspiring voices of change. Tomorrow it will be my talk with Melissa and Chris from @modacitylife.com about their newest research and book "women changing cities". steady.page/de/shedrives... 🧵 What I learned.

In the past decade, Austin, Texas has emerged as a surprising leader in the United States’ active transport movement, translating Dutch design principles to build 650 km (400 mi) of red-tinted “all ages & abilities” cycleways—along with protected intersections—into its sprawling (sub)urban context.🧵

Still buzzing from an amazing afternoon with Austin’s urbanism community. Truly blown away by their hospitality, energy, gratitude, and love for the work. So many folks came out to hear about Women Changing Cities—and then took us for a spin to show off their Dutch-inspired cycling infrastructure.

Safe Streets book talk by @modacitylife.com

Building on five years of collaboration with the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Dutch Cycling Embassy hosted a three-day ThinkBike Workshop in Downtown West Palm Beach! Thank you to everyone involved! #DCEnetwork

What an absolute joy to share the stage with our friends Doug and Sarah from @thewaroncars.bsky.social for a joint book launch and live episode recording last night at Coral Gables’ beautiful Miracle Theatre presented by @transitmia.bsky.social. Keep an eye on your podcast feed in the coming weeks.

Great to have @transitmia.bsky.social bringing @thewaroncars.bsky.social and @modacitylife.com to Miami. People are ready for better!

We had a fantastic time sharing the stage with Chris and Melissa Bruntlett @modacitylife.com at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables. Thanks @transitmia.bsky.social for hosting and to everyone who came out and bought books!

Building on five years of fruitful cooperation with the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization, this week we both joined @dutchcycling.nl for a ThinkBike Workshop in Downtown West Palm Beach. The goal: cycling not as an end, but a means to shape a more liveable, inclusive, prosperous future.

West Palm Beach is accelerating efforts to establish safer, more connected and multimodal streets—with cycling playing a starring role. Through ambitious updates to its Bicycle Master Plan, Complete Streets Policy and Downtown Mobility Plan, the city is reimagining how bikes fit into everyday life.🧵

How cool is this marquee? Don't miss our live show with Melissa & Chris Bruntlett of @modacitylife.com at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, FL. We'll be talking about our new book and theirs — plus a whole lot more. Tickets: purchase.actorsplayhouse.org/EventAvailab...

This Saturday at 2:30 PM, join us and community partners in a book talk and/or bike ride with @modacitylife.com, authors of the new book, Women Changing Cities! You can pre-order the book at this link: thelittlegayshop.com/collections/...

Taking Brightline from Orlando to Miami for our show with @modacitylife.com down there, presented by @transitmia.bsky.social See you on Thursday evening. Get tickets! purchase.actorsplayhouse.org/EventAvailab...

This is coming up fast, so get your tickets for what is promising to be a super fun show! Miami, we can't wait to see you!

It’s good to be back in beautiful Palm Beach, having barely escaped the wintery weather in the Netherlands for a @dutchcycling.nl ThinkBike Workshop with the Metropolitan Planning Organization. We also managed to tack on public events in Miami, Austin, and Elkhart. Details: modacitylife.com/events

If you liked this book, I'd strongly recommend finding a copy of @modacitylife.com's "Curbing Traffic" as your follow-up read. They're Canadians, living in The Netherlands, consulting with cities on how to become more people-friendly. www.ubcpress.ca/curbing-traf...

Looking forward to reading this from @modacitylife.com! My hubs did great with gift giving this holiday season. 🙌🚌🚋

"The book captures a rich blend of urgency, agency and imagination. In positioning imagination as an act of resistance, it provides essential contribution to contemporary urban discourse—and rightfully deserves a place in every urbanism library." Women Changing Cities in RIAS Review: bit.ly/3NlzOkF

Next weekend, we're visiting Austin, Texas for an inspiring afternoon centered on our new book, 'Women Changing Cities'. This is a special opportunity to hear how women leaders—mayors, planners, advocates, and policymakers—are reshaping cities to be more equitable, sustainable, and people-centered.

What’s the equivalent of “get on my level” in Dutch? The Dutch have two sayings: “there is no bad weather, only the wrong clothes” and “you’re not made of sugar”. The meaning of both is that a little cold and wet shouldn’t be an obstacle to transportation freedom. (Photo credit @modacitylife.com)

Happy New Year! After a restful break followed by a beautiful blanketing of snow, the Dutch Cycling Embassy is rolling into 2026 with new energy and enthusiasm for what promises to be a landmark year—including celebrating our 15th anniversary. Watch this space! Video: @filmendefietser.bsky.social.

Next week! Don't miss our live show with @modacitylife.com in Coral Gables, Florida on Thursday, Jan 15 at the Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theater. We're so excited to team up with Melissa and Chris Bruntlett! Get tickets: purchase.actorsplayhouse.org/EventAvailab...

Just wow! 🤩❄️

The Utrecht morning rush hour in the snow did not disappoint!

There's no such thing as bad weather…

Goedemorgen vanuit een besneeuwd Delft.

“By staying authentic to a vision—to not dwell solely on the problems, but shine a light on the potential—the goal remains to help more cities not only survive, but thrive.” Melissa reflects on an eventful first year as a solo entrepreneur, and anticipates a new year of authenticity: bit.ly/3LljcZE

As urbanisation accelerates, cities are grappling with unprecedented pressures—from chronic housing shortages to streets overwhelmed by cars. In response, a small but growing group of leaders is matching the scale of the challenge—steering toward a more prosperous, resilient and sustainable future.🧵

“In Utrecht, the bike is not an end in itself. It is a means to create a liveable, healthy, climate-friendly city for all. The success can be admired in the inner city. It is lively and yet quiet at the same time. Here, it's noticeable: Cities aren't loud; only cars are, and they play no role here.”

“If you care about the bottom line, budgets & taxes, then you should care about urban biking, because it’s a money saver. It’s ironic when so-called fiscal conservatives attack biking, when their efforts just show a lack of understanding of math.” My interview with @modacitylife.com #CityMakingMath