Urban design is about more than just making transportation systems work efficiently—it’s about creating spaces that foster community, enhance quality of life, and ensure safety for all users. While engineers play a crucial role in designing infrastructure, they should not be the only ones making decisions about how our streets and public spaces are shaped. Instead, a multidisciplinary approach involving urban planners, designers, architects, and community stakeholders is necessary to build vibrant, livable cities.

The Limits of an Engineering-Only Approach

Engineers excel at ensuring that systems function smoothly. Their training focuses on efficiency, optimizing traffic flow, and maximizing road capacity. While these are important considerations, they often lead to urban environments that prioritize vehicles over people, disregarding key elements that make cities enjoyable and functional for all. The result? Streets designed for speed and efficiency rather than accessibility, safety, and aesthetic appeal.

Take a look at Richmond Hill, for example. Many of its streets lack proper sidewalks, have wide lanes that encourage speeding, and provide little to no tree coverage. These design choices prioritize vehicular movement but fail to consider the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and the overall well-being of the community. Without input from professionals outside the engineering field, these flaws persist, making urban spaces less welcoming and less safe.

The Role of Design in Human-Centered Spaces

History has shown that good design transforms how people interact with technology and their environment. Consider how cellphone interfaces looked before Apple placed design at the forefront of the iPhone’s development. Before this shift, user interfaces were cluttered and difficult to navigate. Apple’s focus on design made smartphones more intuitive and visually appealing, revolutionizing how we interact with technology. Similarly, home heating thermostats were once complicated and required extensive manual reading to operate. Today, the Google Nest thermostat exemplifies how thoughtful design can make everyday tasks simpler and more enjoyable.

Just as these innovations improved usability and accessibility, the same principles should be applied to urban design. Streets and public spaces need to be intuitive, safe, and welcoming for everyone—not just for cars. This requires contributions from designers, urban planners, landscape architects, and even behavioral psychologists to ensure spaces accommodate human needs holistically.

A Collaborative Approach to Urban Design

For cities to be truly livable, urban design must balance efficiency with aesthetics, accessibility, and sustainability. This means that engineers should be part of a larger, interdisciplinary team rather than the sole decision-makers. Planners and designers bring an understanding of human behavior, aesthetics, and environmental impact, while community members provide local insights that ensure urban spaces reflect the needs of the people who live there.

Cities that have embraced this holistic approach demonstrate its success. Copenhagen, for instance, is widely regarded as one of the most pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly cities in the world. This wasn’t achieved by engineers alone—it was the result of collaboration between architects, urban designers, and city planners who prioritized human experience over pure traffic efficiency. The result is a city with streets that feel inviting, safe, and conducive to social interaction.

Moving Forward: Rethinking Urban Design

If we want cities that are safe, beautiful, and functional for all, we must move beyond an engineer-first approach. This isn’t to say that engineers shouldn’t be involved—they should—but they must work alongside other experts who understand the social, environmental, and aesthetic dimensions of urban spaces.

A well-designed city is one that considers all users, from drivers to cyclists to pedestrians. It’s a place where people want to walk, gather, and enjoy their surroundings. By embracing a multidisciplinary approach to urban design, we can create streets that are not just efficient but also vibrant, safe, and inspiring places to live.