'Streetfight': How American streets can change for the better

In the evolving world of transportation, cars may no longer be king. Walking, biking and public transportation are gaining in popularity.

But are American cities ready for that?

"For generations, actually, we have designed our cities and our roads all around the car, and we've looked at how we can move cars as fast as possible from point A to point B," said Janette Sadik-Khan. Her new book, "Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution," discusses how infrastructure can begin to change from car-centric to people-focused.

Sadik-Khan joined MPR News host Tom Weber to talk her book, and her efforts to transform the streets of New York City. As the former Transportation Commissioner, she was integral in the city's installation of more bike lanes, bus lanes and pedestrian-only areas.

"Cities are their streets," Sadik-Khan said. "It doesn't matter how big or small you are, streets define your city and your town."

"If there's no people on the street ... that's a sign that your streets are sick. If city residents don't have any choice but to drive everywhere, then cities really don't have a chance of surviving. We need to look at ways to provide new choices for people to get around, and design places where walking and biking and transit aren't considered radical or political acts."

A common myth she hopes to dispel is the idea that more streets are the answer to traffic and congestion.

"Building more roads is like loosening your belt to deal with obesity. More roads just leads to more congestion and we've seen that time and time again," she said. "Our roads are failing us. You see the road expansions that have happened in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston — if they'd worked, those roads would be flowing freely and yet they're basically stuck in a sea of red brake lights."

Instead, investing in protected bike paths, dedicated bus lanes, bike-share programs other people-focused initiatives could help improve transportation for everyone.

"After all the [pedestrian] plazas we put down, the bike lanes we put down, the bus lanes we put down, traffic flowed even better than when we started," Sadik-Khan said of her time as New York City's Transportation Commissioner.

For the full discussion with Janette Sadik-Khan on "Streetfight" and New York City's urban planning, use the audio player above.