iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 14h

Safety alone isn't enough to get more women cycling. Cities must start building cohesive networks connecting the myriad places women need to go. This means looking beyond “Can women cycle safely here?” and asking: “Can women use this network to live their lives?” LISTEN: www.dw.com/en/why-arent...

A collage of women of all ages and abilities cycling in the Netherlands.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 29/09/2026

Video production isn't always as smooth as it seems, and that’s where the fun starts. From laughs to retakes, this is what a real day of filming looks like. In this clip, we take you behind-the-scenes of the EuroVelo shoot, sharing exclusive moments from the recording process with the Modacity crew.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 28/09/2026

“Wouldn’t an e-bike be nice for these longer trips?” In partnership with JobRad Loop Melissa got a refurbished Gazelle Miss Grace e-bike and after a few adjustments set off on the first 30-km round cycle trip to the beach. Use the Promo Code “modacitylife50” to get €50 off at jobrad-loop.com

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 28/09/2026

When it comes to road safety, cities have two choices: Adapt kids to traffic: keep them indoors and drive them everywhere. Or adapt traffic to kids: make streets safe enough to move as autonomous members of society. The choice says a lot about the kind of city we want to build. youtu.be/O_WjWRmQwtg

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 28/09/2026

"I want to shift the focus from the technical aspects to the social and political aspects.” The goal isn’t to create more cyclists. It’s to create cities where more people can live full, healthy, connected lives—and where cycling simply becomes one of the most normal ways to do that: bit.ly/4rxF9FE

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 27/09/2026

Too often, public transportation agencies think their responsibility begins and ends at the turnstile. Dutch railways have increasingly embraced the idea they are part of a door-to-door mobility system—one that includes walking, cycling, bike parking, and shared micromobility. youtu.be/ZuiyDEkyPW0

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 26/09/2026

A key theme of Women Changing Cities is the importance of showing up. Not just to challenge the ideas that we disagree with, but to support the leaders who are thanklessly shaping more inclusive, equitable, and caring places. Melissa's interview with Budapest's Feminicity Collective: bit.ly/4xSPvS5

The cover art for a book, “Women Changing Cities: Global Stories of Urban Transformation”, which includes pink typeface over a grey stylized photo of a Paris street from above.

A woman in casual business attire stands with a red bicycle in Delft, with a cycle path and windmill visible in the background.

A man pushes a stroller in a “school street” in Tirana: an area outside of a school protected from car traffic and painted in colourful patterns.

People in casual spring attire play volleyball in a pedestrianized street in the Albanian capital of Tirana.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 25/09/2026

“Streets and their sidewalks, the main public places of a city, are its most vital organs.” - Jacobs “If you want to know what a culture values, look at what it builds. Our cities and towns are some of the greatest works of human civilization. They all began with their streets.” - Dover+Massengale

A paperback book, “Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns” sits in the middle of a brick paved and tree lined street in Delft, The Netherlands.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

We can’t control every reaction to change. We can choose what vision we put into the world: positive rather than punitive, inclusive rather than exclusionary, and optimistic rather than fearful. One that imagines cities not just for the few who are loudest today, but for the many to enjoy tomorrow.🔚

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

For them, better infrastructure isn’t an ideological project. It’s about having more choices, independence, safety and opportunity. That’s the conversation we want to keep having, and we won’t let shouty strangers stop us from doing so.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

Many don’t have the time, confidence or privilege to endlessly argue about urban policy online: Kids who want to move independently. Older adults who want to stay connected. Those with disabilities who need streets to work. Caregivers carrying groceries. Low-income residents who can’t afford a car.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

We can handle the criticism, but this was an poignant reminder: When you change the status quo, there is always a group who feel change is being done to them, rather than for everyone. And the loudest voices online aren’t representative of those who have most to gain from a different kind of city.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

It was also, sadly, a reminder of how emotionally charged the conversation about changing streets can become; and that for some, the mere hint of a shift toward equity feels like oppression. So for a couple of days, we had to step offline while our inboxes and replies were flooded with vitriol.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

As we said in the interview: “In a perfect city, everyone enjoys public space, regardless of age, ability or gender… the environment is more social and the street life encourages people to spend more time outdoors.”

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

A few weeks ago, something unexpected happened: for a moment, we were the most-read story on Estonia’s leading newspaper. For us, it was a rare chance to bring a positive and inclusive vision to a wider audience; one that isn’t just about cycling, but creating cities where everyone can participate.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 24/09/2026

“Stay in bloody Holland and don’t come mess up our lives with your nonsense.” “Cycling extremists.” “Mobility propagandists.” “Idiots.” “A new breed of slugs and rats.” “Who invited these clowns?” “Out to cause harm.” “Zero empathy towards anyone who needs to get around.” “Revolting, evil people.”🧵

A middle aged couple in casual business attire pose for a photo in an industrial courtyard in Tartu, Estonia.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 23/09/2026

A brief stop on our journey back to Amsterdam from Budapest! bsky.app/profile/moda...

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 23/09/2026

Two hours in Vienna. One train stopover. Instead of sitting on the platform, we borrowed shared bikes and pedalled the length of Argentinierstraße: Vienna’s first Dutch-style fietsstraat; where cars are guests and bikes set the pace. Sometimes you don't need a whole day to discover a city by bike.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 22/09/2026

Here are the two recordings from Friday: * The keynote speech at Cycling Without Age: youtu.be/NdqyDxu9Bag * Women’s perspective on sustainable mobility: youtu.be/8szcPebcaeY Automatic subtitles are available.

youtu.be

Cycling Towards Empathy - Melissa Bruntlett

YouTube video by Halász Áron

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 22/09/2026

On Friday, the ‘Women Changing Cities’ book tour reached its 14th nation: Hungary. And what a great way to mark the occasion, with two presentations in Budapest in a single day: That morning, a keynote at the Cycling Without Age Summit. That evening, an EU Mobility Week event with the municipality.

Photos of a woman in business attire giving a presentation in front of a full audience in Budapest, Hungary.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 22/09/2026

One of the best ways to experience fietsgeluk (cycling happiness) is by pedalling together as an expression of community, and the Cycling Without Age Bike Parade in Budapest was no exception. At a time when cycling has become so politically divisive, it was a beautiful, communal act of celebration!

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 21/09/2026

READ more about the “Dare, Able, Invite” framework, which was developed by NS’ Mark van Hagen and Goudappel’s Bas Govers, who applied the Dutch Railways’ pyramid of customer needs to cycling policy: www.scribd.com/document/438...

A graphic shows three stages through which cycling cities must evolve: people must first dare to cycle (safe and reliable), then be able to cycle (quick and convenient), before they are invited to cycle (attractive and joyful).

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 21/09/2026

The next frontier is even more exciting. The “Invite” stage is where cycling becomes the most attractive choice—not just because it works, but because it is delightful. Wide, uninterrupted routes. Green corridors. Car-free spaces. Places where riding feels less like transport and more like freedom.🔚

Cyclists in casual autumn attire ride along dedicated and protected cycling infrastructure lined with buildings, trees, and trams in Budapest.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 21/09/2026

Meanwhile, cycling has gained a critical boost from MOL Bubi, Budapest’s public sharing system. Its new generation launched last month with 3,300 bikes (including 800 e-bikes) across 200 stations; averaging 3.6 million rentals and covering 7.3 million kilometres annually—that's 10,000 trips per day.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 21/09/2026

The numbers tell an interesting story. Budapest has a substantial cycling network of about 915 kilometres. Yet the municipality's own assessment found that just 26% met its higher comfort standards, while over half was still classified as requiring significant improvement or lacking safe conditions.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 21/09/2026

Not long ago, biking here was for the fit and brave. But years of investment in protected lanes, calmer streets, safer intersections and better connections have vastly improved the experience. Today, it is increasingly possible to pedal across the city in a way that feels practical, direct and safe.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 21/09/2026

Cycling cities evolve through three stages: people must first dare to cycle (safe and reliable), then be able to cycle (quick and convenient), before they are invited to cycle (attractive and joyful). Spending the weekend exploring Budapest by bike, it's clear the city sits in the middle category.🧵

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

For now, the rakpart remains a seasonal experiment. Yet after years of watching thousands of people walk, bike, dance, dine, drink, gather, and simply linger beside the Danube, the real question is no longer whether the space works without cars. It is whether Budapest is ready to make it permanent.🔚

People of all ages and abilities walk, bike, dance, dine, drink, gather, and simply linger on the former motorway along the east bank of the Danube River in Budapest.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

The significance of this project extends well beyond Budapest. Across Europe, planners are reclaiming waterfronts that were taken by traffic engineers, recognising their greatest value lies not in moving motorists but in creating places where people want to spend time and savour their city together.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

As a result, city leaders now have a clearer path toward delivering the long-discussed transformation, and the prospect of permanently reimagining the embankment as a promenade—with trees, seating, public amenities, and dedicated space for walking and cycling—appears to be more achievable than ever.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

For years, plans for a permanent transformation faced resistance from Hungary’s national government, which controlled key approvals and often blocked efforts to reduce road capacity. With a new administration signaling support rather than opposition, the political landscape has shifted dramatically.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

Like many 20th century cities, Budapest sacrificed its priceless waterfront as a corridor to move vehicles rather than a destination in its own right. This tactical experiment challenges that legacy, demonstrating the social, economic, and environmental value of returning public space to the public.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

Support for the concept has grown steadily, and it attracts huge crowds, becoming one of the rare places in Budapest where people can fully enjoy the Danube without traffic stress. At its heart, it asks one simple question: what is the highest and best use of one of Europe’s most iconic riverfronts?

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

Rather than asking citizens to imagine a redesigned waterfront, the city is allowing them to experience one through a real-world prototype. Every car-free evening and weekend offers a glimpse of how the embankment could function as a civic promenade, cycle route, cultural venue, and gathering space.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

Each opening transforms the rakpart into a lively public corridor—attracting tens of thousands for concerts, classes, picnics, cafés, and spontaneous social gatherings. Critically, it enables a different relationship with the river; one defined by access and activity instead of congestion and noise.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

Along the waterfront motorway on the Pest lower embankment, a compelling urban experiment has emerged out of a temporary intervention. Families stroll beside the river. Teens gather with friends. Joggers, diners, dancers, dog walkers, tourists, and locals occupy space where they were once unwelcome.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/09/2026

For decades, one of Budapest’s most spectacular public spaces was reserved exclusively for moving cars. Today, on summer evenings and weekends, the city is testing a different future on the Danube River: one where the din of traffic gives way to conversation, music and the ringing of bicycle bells.🧵

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/09/2026

For decision makers, the lesson is clear: effective leadership requires looking beyond the intensive minority and finding ways to understand the preferences of the wider public. In Budapest, when residents were asked directly, they chose a bridge designed for moving people rather than private cars.🔚

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/09/2026

This outcome highlighted a recurring challenge for urban transformation: politicians and planners often hear most from those who oppose change, not necessarily from those who stand to benefit from it. While opponents may be more organised, vocal and visible, they don’t represent the silent majority.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/09/2026

Yet when the city put the question directly to residents in 2023, the result was decisive. Over 136,000 Budapest residents participated in the consultation, and 79% supported maintaining the car-free arrangement, reserving the bridge for public transport, taxis, cyclists, and other low-impact users.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/09/2026

Budapest’s Széchenyi Chain Bridge offers a striking case. After the bridge’s renovation, private cars were temporarily excluded while buses, taxis, and cyclists continued to cross. The decision sparked fierce opposition from a vocal group of motorists arguing banning cars would damage accessibility.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/09/2026

Urban planning debates are often dominated by a small but highly motivated minority. Public meetings, consultation processes, and media coverage can create the false impression that a noisy group of opponents represents the majority view, even when the broader public quietly feels very differently.🧵

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 18/09/2026

Authorities increasingly view school streets as a tool for creating a safer, greener, more child-friendly Budapest. For now, their first offers a glimpse of how even a small amount of reclaimed space improves daily life—not just for kids, but for teens who lack welcoming public places of their own.🔚

People of all ages and abilities walk, stand, play and sit in a Budapest "school street". The traffic filtered pedestrian zone contains bollards, planters, tables and chairs, painted murals, and benches, and is lined with trees and buildings.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 18/09/2026

Trefort Street is intended as a pilot project, with lessons from its implementation informing future investments. Two nearby school streets have been recently completed, while long-term plans envision the redesign of over 50 streets and the expansion of the concept to other educational institutions.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 18/09/2026

The project is part of Budapest's broader efforts to improve safety, air quality, active travel use and social cohesion through reallocation of public space. It formally adopted its School Street Program in 2025, building on years of collaboration between planners, educators, students and residents.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 18/09/2026

While often associated with small children, this school street is designed for teenagers. In the dense inner-city where public space is limited, it has become an outdoor extension of the school: for students to meet before and after class, socialise during breaks and participate in outdoor learning.

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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 18/09/2026

Following extensive consultation, the city closed the section of street directly in front of the school to motor traffic, installing retractable bollards, seating, planters, and colourful street art. Nearly 90% of participants supported the project, including the majority of residents living nearby.

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