5 Things Cities Can Learn from Burning Man

Here’s the major opus from Black Rock City, newly posted on TIME.com. After chatting with Burning Man executive director Larry Harvey, I gleaned 5 things Burning Man accomplishes every year that other cities might try. Things like: getting cars out of downtown areas and creating pedestrian space; making people more responsible to pick up after themselves; promoting virtue, even if you have to shame people into it; rethinking commerce; and supporting artists.

Of course it’s a lot easier when your city is made from scratch every year and is only inhabited for a week.

Still, food for thought.