Susan Patterson, Program Director for the Knight Foundation in Charlotte, traveled to Denmark and Sweden with four Charlotte team members in August to learn firsthand how cities become truly livable. As the team cycled the streets of Copenhagen and toured Malmo, they encountered delightful surprises around every turn: playgrounds designed for both children and adults, outdoor concerts, picnics, vibrant sidewalk cafes, and residents of all ages and skill levels cycling as their primary means of transportation.

The team returned to Charlotte with a deeper appreciation of how important sustainable transportation and well-designed urban places are. They also discussed ideas for transforming our sprawling, car-dependent city into a walkable, bikeable community that will attract a talented workforce and boost quality of life for all of Charlotte's residents.

To learn more about the trip and how it inspired ideas for Charlotte, read the Op-Ed in the Charlotte Observer by Susan Patterson: