Here is an interesting recording of Gísli Marteinn Baldursson, a former city councillor for Reykjavík, describing some major changes here in Reykjavík in recent years. He was instrumental in making many of these chages happen.
The pedaling revolution in Reykjavík: Gísli Marteinn Baldursson at TEDxReykjavík
Published on Jul 4, 2014
In only a decade, from 2002 to 2012, the number of trips made on a bicycle in Reykjavík grew ten-times. More trips are made on a bicycle in Reykjavík than in any large American city and this small capital has its sight on becoming one of the great bicycle capitals in the world. How did this happen, and what role did the economic crash in 2008 have in this development?
Gísli Marteinn Baldursson is a former city councillor for Reykjavík and a television talk-show host. He has been a key figure in putting sustainable urban planning on the political agenda in Reykjavík and Iceland. Concerned with increasing urban sprawl, increased traffic, air and water pollution and public health concerns like obesity, Gísli has devoted himself to speaking, writing and otherwise raising awareness about the need for re-densification and sustainable planning in Reykjavík. Harvard University recently choose Gísli as one of ten people to be a Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design for the academic year of 2014-15.
Gísli's website: gislimarteinn.is
TEDxReykjavík was held for the fourth time on May 17th 2014 in Harpa conference and concert center. The audience experienced engaging and motivational talks from some of the brightest artists, thinkers and entrepreneurs in Iceland, and from further afield. You can find more about TEDxReykjavík at www.TEDxReykjavik.is
facebook.com/tedxreykjavik
twitter.com/TedxReykjavik
The other videos from TEDxReykjavík 2014: http://ow.ly/yMlTU