4 ways to make a city more walkable | Jeff Speck

Freedom from cars, freedom from sprawl, freedom to walk your city! City planner Jeff Speck shares his "general theory of walkability" -- four planning principles to transform sprawling cities of six-lane highways and 600-foot blocks into safe, walkable oases full of bike lanes and tree-lined streets.

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[matthewsawczyn]

I recall being happy to walk 45 minutes to a destination in Rome, because of the sheer beauty on every street

[katepeterson]

Meanwhile, in my city: "We made bike lanes and nobody uses them, why would we build more?" But about 75% of those bike lanes are directly uphill in the suburbs and none of them connect to each other...

[eizhowa]

I think one of the benefits of living in an old european city is that the streets were made to accomodate people (and horses), not cars.

[PhillProbst]

The most important factor to promote “walkability” is convenience. If you want to encourage walkability, walking must be more convenient than driving.

[PrincessNinja]

I've had friends get picked up by cops for walking on the interstate. A huge issue for non-walkable towns (I can't speak for cities, my county seat is 12, 000) is that if you don't have a two-car household (which no college roommates have), you're screwed if anything happens to your car. You better pray it's just a flat or an oil change, because even if you're willing to risk your neck to walk 2-3 miles in a ditch next to the highway, it can be literally illegal to walk to work

[DramaGeek]

I live in one of the cities he cited at the beginning as the "typical American city" and can confirm that it has all the issues he discusses. I technically live close enough to work to be able to walk or bike, but because of the way the city is designed, I would not consider it a safe walk. I used to live in NYC and I miss the walkability and access to public transportation.

[TheKirschbaumfee]

As a european this blews my mind. i mean i 'knew' that many american cities and suburbs were build for cars but i now know i didnt imagine how this really looks like :D

[gneruinseruihnutshnu]

Hello from Europe, a place where this talk about cities that you cannot cross without a car sounds sci-fi.

[adlinks]

Went straight on Cities: Skylines after this haha

[davidsw]

I for one would LOVE to see bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure prioritized over automotive--I'd bike everywhere if it were safer.

[lesliengo]

Having lived in Metro Vancouver and knowing the City of Vancouver is actively trying to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, it is very relatable. Adding more bicycle lanes, different transit options, wider and decorated sidewalks, and being educated about why we should prioritize walking over driving will make a city more livable and enjoyable. Love the humour as well!

[IAMDIMITRI]

I will definitely apply it to my own city someday when I have one.

[daidaitastic]

"an optional instrument of freedom rather than a prosthetic device" cool

[peterjones]

I live in Salt Lake City, and something that I think is viewed as our greatest weakness could become our greatest strength: our blocks. Yes, our 660' blocks are enormous and unwalkable; but I think if we were to carve them up and let them be a mixed-use wonderland, each block could become its own little neighborhood! Living, working, shopping, and recreation could all be on one block! Salt Lake City started out, in a sense, as mixed-use. The Plot of Zion planned for people to live and farm and trade all on their block. It didn't have zoning districts of live here, work there.

[ferjo]

1:30 - Four things you need simultaneously to make a walkable city: 1. Proper reason to walk; 2. safe 3; comfortable; 4. interesting

[charmingyoutuber]

I think I just found what I want to do for a living

[octaviasmith]

As a non-car owner transplant in Nashville, I can assure you sidewalks *do not* exist except near the gentrified areas downtown and by the universities. I literally walk 2 feet from traffic ON THE ROAD on my commute to work and back. Moving to Minneapolis later on this year and buying a bike. They have pedestrian bridges and bike lanes all over the city (^-^ so excited).

[LaurokaPlay]

As a european currently in the Unites States, this is the main reason why I want to move back to Europe asap

[GamerGurke]

I am so happy living in Berlin, a European and green city where people decide to walk for an hour to get to a friend instead of taking the subway. Also mentioning that no one would ever think about getting into a car to get to a friend if it isn't absolutely necessary.

[cilstr]

thank you for explaining why i find those new sprawling 'Neighbourhoods" give me the creeps and make me feel ill. :)