Earlier this week, Brent Toderian – thought-leader, city planner and urbanist based in Vancouver – tweeted this question: “If you had the power to ban just one thing from cities in order to make them MUCH better, OTHER THAN CARS (too easy), what would that one thing be?”

And it went viral, getting 4.5K+ responses – causing it to trend on Twitter. Following his lead, we took to our own social media accounts to ask the same question (with a slight, “more positive” spin on the verbiage) asking our Instagram followers: “If you had the power to change just ONE thing about our city in order to make it MUCH better, what would that one thing be + why?”

Our Instagram question about what you'd change to better our city.

Reader Feedback

Here are a few of the answers y’all shared:

○ “Improved public transit, greenways, bike lanes etc.” – @olive_wilbur

○ “Greenways please! 🌲 🌳” – @nick.dugan22

○ “No more condo's, go all out on bike lanes and greenways!! 🔥❄️❤️🌿” – @badabastu828

○ “Water purification of the French broad” – @graysooooon

○ “Asheville is so dog friendly, a large fantastic dog park downtown would be super! 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾” – @alreadytrainedaustlabradoodles

○ “Make it affordable to live here.” – @pamelamortimerphoto

○ “Stop with the hotels already.” – @ghostfacekahula

○ “Definitely more affordable living. The current wages here do not pay enough to live here.” – @robbie.tulanko

○ “Large scale public transport.” – @jennifergioia

○ “Uber system for kayakers.” – @ale_man_joy

○ “Ban single use plastic.” – @dreamaloa

○ “Make it more ethnically diverse.” – @madpropsasheville

○ “If you’re local you get amenities like free downtown parking and getting to skip lines at popular restaurants. 😁” – @adrienneoatesart

○ “Higher pay for APD to entice more applicants, crime & break-ins are what drove me to move.” – @trishjack

○ “Embrace tourism as it really is the only thing that can bring money into the area on a consistent basis... home prices are fine in Asheville relative to other areas as there are many different price points to select....” – @andrewbiazis

○ “Easy, TDA funds go to city and county budgets, not for more tourism marketing.” – @coachdubs19

○ “Better biking network…” – @theandrewpowell

Now, before you think of the things you dislike/hate/simply are not fond of in Asheville, let’s take a moment to think deeper into what makes a city great?

Of course, each individual’s answer will vary, so below are the top four comments that received the most likes. We want you to vote on the issue/solution you resonate with most, then comment here and tell us how we as Ashevillians can work together to make a solution to the problem(s). Let’s think in terms of building “community” and not just city “controversy.”

Poll

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