To teenagers worried about the ban on social media until the age of sixteen, I would like to say that they will gain valuable time to observe and notice small things that aren't working in their environment. This is the key quality of good professionals, whether they are doctors, train drivers, architects, or truck drivers. By listening and taking notes, they learn exactly where they can add value, and this is a necessary skill for surviving in today's world.
The 21st century is highly technological, and everything changes so rapidly that instruction manuals become outdated as they are being written. It's no longer enough to know how a car battery works because, in addition to mechanics, you now need to know about electronics, digital software... Most cities were built over a hundred years ago, and we are approaching the obsolescence of much of our infrastructure. How many welds need to be checked to keep a railway track safe? How long can it last? A rotten wooden beam? Where exactly does water leak from a tiled roof? And how long can ground soaked by an unexpected downpour withstand?
Mierle Laderman Ukeles wrote a manifesto on the art of maintenance in 1969, in which he posed a thought-provoking question: "The bitter aftermath of every revolution: who will take out the trash next Monday?" The image culture circulating on social media is a cult addicted to the new and the photogenic: brightly colored new houses and stunning dining rooms; gleaming buildings devoid of books or clutter. I'm hooked by these photos too. I always enjoy peeking into other people's homes, especially if they're beautiful. But who will know how to fix their toilet when it breaks?
Election season has always made it easier to push things through. There's a clear disconnect between top political leaders and the operational level: they isolate their departments so much that they often don't know which teams are overwhelmed and which are just sitting around doing nothing. And, obsessed with communicating neutral and sterile messages, they waste valuable time getting down to where those at the operational level are, every day, trying to make the city's symphony sound at least somewhat in tune.
For those without their own vehicle, bus and train drivers are their personal chauffeurs. They strive to be on time, keep the seats clean to ensure every journey is a premium experience, and constantly check the rearview mirror to make sure passengers are comfortable. Driving public transport requires a certain civic authority, which each driver exercises in their own way. Some greet the elderly and the older children who are no longer accompanied to school. And there are those who simply nod to avoid distractions. They have the city and the subway system at their fingertips.
The ability to take the train and the bus has radically changed the country, because it allows for daily travel between cities. It brings the Passeig de Gràcia and the ski slopes closer to any metropolitan citizen, breaking down the real estate principle of a monumental public space or a model of leisure in nature only for those who can afford it.
Will public transport drivers be able to be replaced by robots? The diverse range of uses that makes the streets so appealing requires precisely that social awareness when driving. Anticipating what others are doing, anticipating unexpected crossings, being attentive to single mothers with more than one child, waiting for the sick person using crutches or the elderly woman walking slowly to avoid falling... Technology may work in a tunnel, but in the event of an accident, human judgment will remain essential.
Designing a street plan also requires putting yourself in the driver's shoes: thinking about the best place for the bus shelter and imagining the rhythm of thousands of movements. When I see drivers dressed in maroon sweaters and gray trousers, I wonder if they realize how important their work is to the city's organization. But so as not to distract them, I say "Good morning" and pay as quickly as possible.
Urban networks are, fundamentally, people making sure everything works seamlessly. Cities progress because there's a common language we use to understand each other and an efficient division of labor. And this is my tribute to the people who, every day, anonymously, without lecturing or seeking much recognition, ensure that the plans approved in city council meetings or in Parliament are actually implemented. They do what needs to be done as best they can, repairing buses, trains, tracks, downspouts, roofs, and potholes in this hypocritical society obsessed only with what's new and shiny.
