Jane Jacobs: Neighbourhoods in Action is a video produced by Active Living Network (a project of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) featuring an interview with the American urban visionary Jane Jacobs

(via Jane’s Walk Pheonix the Jane’s Walks blogspot).

Jane’s Walk is a grassroots initiative that seeks to put people and communities at the heart of city life and enhance the urban experience by organizing free, volunteer-run neighbourhood walking tours in cities.

Jane’s Walks, named after urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs, are unique because they take into account local culture, social history and planning issues faced by the residents rather than focusing on architecture and heritage alone.

“Some focus on historical themes more than geographical areas, for instance, some strolls are built around ideas like the history of the bicycle, gay and lesbian history, places of relevance to the homeless, the history of ‘skid row’, and urgent planning matters facing certain neighborhoods”.

Since 2007 over 20 cities in North America have participated in the walks and in 2009 Mumbai, India joined in too.