Gil
Penalosa
Helping You Create 8 & 80 Cities for Everyone
Gil’s Vision
is creating
‘Neighbourhood-Cities’
that are Equitable, Sustainable and fun, where everyone, especially Children and Olders, live Healthier and Happier.
Who is Gil
Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa has a unique blend of experience, knowledge and pragmatism that has taken him to work in over 350 cities around the world.
In Bogotá, Colombia, he led the construction of over 200 parks, and transformed a small program called Ciclovia into the world’s largest ‘linear park’, over 120 km, where every Sunday and Holiday over 1.5 million people of all ages and backgrounds come out to walk, bike, run, shop, and mostly, to enjoy the presence of each other.
He’s a sought-after keynote speaker in multiple topics, for his capacity to inspire, open minds, get people moving from talking to doing. He is a Certified Professional Speaker.
Gil’s Main Topics
Services
Offered by Gil
The 8 80 Cities Connection
Gil is the Founder & Chair of 8 80 Cities. After many years running the organization as Executive Director, he now serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
8 80 Cities, Gil Penalosa & Associates, and Cities for Everyone, work closely on some projects when they require the strengths of more than one organization.
Gil’s Cities
Because of Gil’s unique blend of experience, pragmatism and passion, many cities and organizations worldwide seek his leadership and valuable advice.
He has worked in over 350 different cities in all continents. His work intersects with. a number of fields such as transportation, public health, urban planning, parks and recreation, environment, education, and economic development.
Testimonials
From the webinars
The Walkable City
Key Takeaways To divert trips from cars, walking and cycling must be simultaneously: Useful (mixed-use destinations), Safe (protection from vehicular threat), Comfortable (well-enclosed “outdoor living rooms”) and Interesting (varied façades, human-scaled details)....
The 15-Minute City
Key Takeaways The 15-minute (or 30-minute) City isn’t just about distance. It redefines quality of life via green, complete, socially rich, mixed-use neighbourhoods. Beyond spatial distance, implement social, cultural, cognitive, emotional, and digital proximities to...
Soft City: Building Density for Everyday Life
Key Takeaways → Urban environments should be flexible, adaptable, and deeply human-centered. → High density should not mean high-rise developments alone but rather diverse, layered urban spaces with well-designed mid-rise buildings, communal areas, and active streets....