about urbanthinkers

Urbanthinkers is a sustainable transportation think tank based in East Vancouver, BC with over a decade of international experience. We believe that walking and cycling to school can be fun, safe and invigorating – and that student leaders themselves will generate the shift away from a current over-reliance on driving to school.

Led by Arthur Orsini, M.A. (Env. Ed.), we are at the forefront of developing new and innovative programs and resources that are in use across Canada and in Auckland, New Zealand.

Orsini has also presented in Australia, Belgium and the USA.

Urbanthinkers is focused on increasing physical activity in the commute to school while reducing vehicular traffic within the community. A key element is in the engagement of the target audience in a community participation forum which includes parents, teachers, administrators, community partners and student leaders from as young as Grade 4 (age 9).

We thrive on innovation – successfully developing many ‘first ever projects,' including:

Cycling Training for Teachers project – developed with Cara Fisher for the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition in 2008
International Walk21 Youth Forum – YWALK Toronto, 2007
Auckland Regional Youth Transport Seminar – Waitakere, New Zealand, 2006
Transport Seminar within the annual Sir Peter Blake Youth Environmental Forum – Wellington, New Zealand April, 2006
CUTA Youth Summit Steering Committee 2002 – inspired by the Victoria, BC teenagers working with Orsini
Secondary School Vehicle Reduction Program - received an OECD Sustainable Transport Award: Education and Youth in 2000 (a project Orsini created while working at BEST in Vancouver)

In spite of all these successes, we realize that more of our Great Work lies ahead!