I’m sure she was just being glib. But, as long as we (society) define important issues according to whether we’re able to grab a quick, tasty meal or find an easy way to recreate or a cheaper way to do whatever we want; we’re simply fooling ourselves.

As a transportation expert, she knows that all we have to do is stop building and maintaining transportation infrastructure and we’ll be walking to get that very expensive piece of pizza, until we break up the roadways and plant gardens inn them. Sustainability is about life. That is, the viability of multitudes of species that are intertwined and each add something to the mix, as long as all are kept in check.

I love pizza, but I’ll give it up if it means we’ll start having communities and regions that are truly sustainable and not dependent on stressing other people and other species for a nice walk and a piece of pizza.

Of course, Osborne’s comment might have simply been an attempt to coax navel gazers to think about supporting sustainable planning and design. If she got their attention, they might want to check out “Visions of Smart Growth and Sustainability” at flasla.org.