'Gurgaon needs law giving priority to pedestrians'

Gil Penelosa, the man instrumental in making Ciclovia a role model for urban mobility, has worked in 150 cities across the world in the field of sustainable transport. In Gurgaon for the workshop, he spoke with TOI about ideal cities and the not-so-ideal ones.
Would you say it's a good idea for cities to replicate urban development experiments conducted elsewhere?
Every city needs unique solutions, suited to the local requirements and conditions.But this doesn't mean one city shouldn't learn from others. Instead of copying other models, the focus should be on adapting and improving upon existing successful experiments. But the gist remains the same. Sustainable mobility and public spaces are what any urban setting requires.
How does a city like Gurgaon begin on its sustainability course?
The first thing that the city authorities should do is get together and make a law that can be summed up in one sentence - 'Pedestrians come first in Gurgaon.' If such a law is passed, all future development and every upgrade will have to bear this in mind and provide the necessary facilities to pedestrians and cyclists. We have to remember that every single trip begins and ends with walking. So we are all pedestrians. Why not give pedestrians top priority in urban planning then?
This is your first visit to India, and indeed to Gurgaon. Any suggestions for the Millennium City?
You need to build a grid of cycle tracks. Not isolated, unprotected loops, but a network of safe bikeways. Connecting the original destinations of commuters to the public transport circuit is also essential. So there should be walkways and crosswalks. Good infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists is also a symbol of respect a city has for its people.
Have you come across a city that you'd call ideally built?
I like Copenhagen very much. It's a city where average incomes are quite high and still 38 out of 100 trips are made on bicycles. This says a lot. Also, Copenhagen is very similar in size to Gurgaon. But I find the weather in Gurgaon much better.