Time Magazine recently described their top 100 people in 2010. And who was in it? None other than Jaime Lerner, 3 time visionary mayor of Curitiba, Brazil. I’ve written previously about the transformation Jaime Lerner led in Curitiba; turning it from a city for cars to a city for people.

But why did Time Magazine nominate Jaime Lerner for one of their top 100 people of 2010?

Jaime Lerner – 40 years ahead of his time

Jaime Lerner recognised the problem cars, poverty and environmental waste created in a city way back in 1970. And he was brave enough to do things differently to solve the problems. While other cities were building roads for cars and selling parkland for housing, he was building his city for people, bicycles and buses while expanding parkland.

40 years later, his ideas (like Bus Rapid Transit) are being considered in cities around the World. No wonder that the Time Magazine article was written by Gregor Robertson, mayor of Vancouver – one of the World’s most liveable cities.

I’m delighted Time Magazine recognised Jaime Lerner, and I hope other cities are encouraged to follow the lead of Curitiba.

What do you think of Jamie Lerner’s relevance to cities today?