4 ways to make a city more walkable | Jeff Speck

Summary

The speaker discusses the concept of a 'walkable city,' emphasizing that it's one where cars are optional rather than essential. He outlines the 'general theory of walkability,' highlighting four key elements: a reason to walk, safety, comfort, and interest. The talk explores the contrast between traditional neighborhoods and suburban sprawl, the importance of mixed-use planning, and the role of transit. It also delves into practical aspects like block size, street width, and the presence of amenities that encourage walking, advocating for urban design that prioritizes pedestrians.

Takeaways

• 🚶 A walkable city is one where the car is optional rather than a necessity for freedom.
• 🏙️ Creating a walkable city requires offering compelling reasons to walk, ensuring safety, comfort, and interest during the walk.
• 📈 The speaker's 'general theory of walkability' suggests that walkability hinges on four simultaneous elements: reason, safety, comfort, and interest.
• 🌆 The typical American city's planning often lacks walkability due to zoning that separates uses and discourages walking.
• 🛣️ Sprawl is characterized by low-density, single-use areas that are not walkable and overburdened streets.
• 🏘️ Traditional neighborhoods, in contrast, are compact, diverse, and provide a mix of uses within walking distance.
• 🏢 Housing and jobs should be in balance in urban areas to support walkability; often, housing is underrepresented.
• 🚌 Transit is essential for a walkable city, but it must be complemented by walkability around transit stations.
• 🚦 Block size and street design significantly affect walkability; smaller blocks with mixed uses are preferable.
• 🚲 Bicycle infrastructure is a growing aspect of urban design, influencing the number of cyclists in a city.
• 🌳 Urban details like trees, on-street parking, and sidewalk design contribute to a safer and more comfortable walking environment.
• 🏢 Active ground floor uses, such as shops and restaurants, enliven streets and make walks more interesting and attractive.

Q & A

What is the definition of a walkable city according to the speaker?

A walkable city is defined as a city where the car is an optional instrument of freedom rather than a prosthetic device, implying that one should be able to enjoy freedom of movement without necessarily relying on a car.

What are the four essential elements required to make a city walkable according to the speaker's 'general theory of walkability'?

The four essential elements are: a proper reason to walk, safety and the feeling of safety while walking, comfort during the walk, and an interesting experience during the walk.

What is the historical context behind the formation of the planning profession as mentioned in the script?

The planning profession began in the 19th century when planners moved housing away from the soot-producing mills to improve living conditions and increase lifespans, leading to the onset of Euclidean zoning and the separation of the landscape into single-use areas.

Why does the speaker argue that the typical American city's planning is not conducive to walkability?

The speaker argues that typical American city planning, which often separates residential, commercial, and industrial areas, does not promote walkability because nothing is located near anything else, making it inconvenient for people to walk to different destinations.

What is the significance of mixed-use planning in creating walkable cities?

Mixed-use planning is significant in creating walkable cities because it allows for a diversity of places to live, work, shop, recreate, and get educated all within walking distance, thus providing a proper reason to walk.

How does the speaker describe the impact of suburban sprawl on walkability?

The speaker describes suburban sprawl as not compact, not diverse, and not walkable due to the lack of street connectivity, which leads to overburdened streets that are not safe for pedestrians.

What role does transit play in creating a walkable city according to the speaker?

Transit is essential in creating a walkable city because it provides access to the entire city as a pedestrian. Without transit, people are more likely to use cars, which can reshape the city to accommodate vehicles, leading to wider streets and larger parking lots that reduce walkability.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of block size in walkability?

The speaker emphasizes block size because smaller blocks, like those in Portland, Oregon, are more walkable. Larger blocks, as in Salt Lake City, tend to have more lanes and are less conducive to walking due to increased traffic and the distance between destinations.

What is the concept of 'induced demand' as it relates to city streets and how does it affect walkability?

Induced demand is the phenomenon where widening streets to accommodate anticipated traffic congestion actually leads to more traffic, as the congestion that was limiting demand is removed, allowing more vehicles to use the road. This can negatively affect walkability by encouraging more car use and reducing the focus on pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

How does the speaker suggest improving the safety of walks in cities?

The speaker suggests improving walk safety by reducing street widths, implementing bike lanes, adding on-street parking to protect sidewalks, and ensuring that streets have proper edges and enclosure to provide a sense of refuge for pedestrians.

What is the role of 'interesting walks' in enhancing walkability and how can it be achieved?

Interesting walks are crucial for enhancing walkability as they provide a more engaging experience for pedestrians. This can be achieved by ensuring there are signs of humanity, such as active ground floors, mixed-use buildings, and avoiding large expanses of exposed parking decks or blank walls.