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
Building Civic Trust and Economic Recovery through Public Space.
Case: Detroit, USA
At a time of increasing loneliness and mistrust, as well as rising economic uncertainty since the global pandemic, public space provides a unique opportunity to address both challenges at once.
The Challenge of Sustainable Urban Tourism.
Case: San Sebastian, Spain
Key Takeaways ⇢ Both natural and urban destinations suffer degradation when visitor numbers exceed the capacity of their core assets, i.e., ecosystems in nature and local way of life in cities. ⇢ Overtourism leads to housing displacement (Airbnb conversion),...
Why Mobility Transitions Do Not Start with Mobility
Key Takeaways ⇢ Cycling symbolizes autonomy, health and sustainability, but its rise depended on systemic shifts in street design and social norms—not on bikes alone. ⇢ Transitions demand holistic, multi‑level strategies that integrate infrastructure, behaviour...