50 amazing new public-space transformations captured by Google Street View

A parking lot becomes a park. A crosswalk gets the cobblestone treatment, and a sidewalk stretches just a few yards.

In the life of a pedestrian, these changes — big and small — make all the difference.

In 2015, a Brazilian urban planning collective called Urb-i (shorthand for Urban Ideas) set out to show examples of people-friendly public spaces with an inspiring before-and-after gallery of Google Street View images revealing the most stunning transformations from around the world.

The gallery got a makeover in the last few month with a series of new before-and-afters, as well as a number of new features, including photos divided by country and a map so users can zoom in on transformations. Take a look at some of our favorite new before-and-after photos.

We are a society “addicted to cars,” according to the four young founders of Urb-i. Traffic lanes and parking take precedent over green spaces and outdoor seating. People traveling on foot are quarantined to tiny sidewalks.

Read the full article on Business Insider

Author: Melia Robinson

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