Fueled by the expansion of protected bike lanes and bike-sharing systems like Citi Bike, cycling is increasingly becoming a preferred mode of transportation for many New Yorkers. According to data from the NYC Department of Transportation , the number of daily cycling trips rose 64% between 2013 and 2023. A survey from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found that more than 762,000 New Yorkers ride a bike regularly.
Five years later, that decline has reached a clear low point. Only 20 percent of Millennials and Gen Z say they trust mortgage professionals to help them make informed decisions. The knowledge gap remains significant, but in an age when information is everywhere, knowledge is no longer the only barrier. The deeper challenge is a lack of trust, and trust cannot be automated or outsourced. It has to be built in community.
The main answer is, how is the place tourism managed? That's the absolute key. In many countries, the government finds that people will pay to go and see, for example, mountain gorillas in Rwanda. So the researchers there said, 'No more than six people at a time, and they can't stay more than an hour.' Well, the governments there think, 'Okay, we get all this money for six.'
Palivan emphasizes that her goal with Lao Garden is to educate people about Lao culture and cuisine, which she believes is often overshadowed by neighboring Thai food.
"In the beginning, we were litigious, we were out protesting, and that has kind of changed over the decades and we've turned into an organization that primarily does its work behind the scenes."
