On a recent trip to Hoi An, in central Vietnam, my colleague and I were picked up from our hotel by a local colleague. “Get a bike,” were almost her first words, and when we weren’t on foot, our movement around the city was all on bicycle. We visited the partly motor vehicle-free zone (it is only free of motorized vehicles certain hours a day, a few days a week) several times and saw children roller skating and people of all ages and different nationalities, though mostly local, cycling and strolling. We enjoyed a quiet meal while watching the people go by, possibly going somewhere, possibly just enjoying the peaceful street, then fled when the motorbikes returned. Although Hoi An is admittedly a small city, there is no reason why other cities could not reward people for replacing short trips with walking and cycling backed up by excellent public transit. Not every city is as beautiful as Hoi An, but all cities would improve with fewer cars and more life in the streets.