Lecture on The Walkable City

Introduction

• Definition: A walkable city is where the car is an optional instrument of freedom.
• Focus: Discussing how to create a walkable city.
• General Theory of Walkability: Offers a walk as good as or better than a drive.

Four Key Elements of a Walkable City

1. Reason to Walk

   • Learn from New Urbanism founders: Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.
   • Historical Context: Euclidean zoning separated landscapes into single-use areas, which hinders walkability.
   • Example: Manhattan's vertical mixed-use development.

2. Safe Walking Environment

   • Block Size: Smaller blocks (like Portland’s) promote walkability compared to larger ones (like Salt Lake City’s).
   • Traffic Lanes and Street Design:
     • Induced demand theory: Widening streets increases traffic.
     • Oversized streets can be redesigned to improve walkability.
     • Example: Oklahoma City & Cedar Rapids lane reconfigurations.
   • Lane Width and Street Design: Narrower lanes encourage slower, safer driving.

3. Comfortable Walking Environment

   • Animals seek prospect and refuge.
   • Street and Building Proportions: Proper height-to-width ratios in streetscapes foster comfort.
   • Avoiding Missing Teeth: Encourage development to fill in empty lots and corners.

4. Interesting Walk

   • Human Engagement: People are drawn to signs of life and other people.
   • Street-Level Activity: Active ground floors are vital.
   • Mitigating Blandness: Proper design can hide less attractive structures, such as parking garages.

Contrast: Traditional Neighborhood vs. Suburban Sprawl

• Traditional Neighborhoods:
  • Compact and diverse.
  • Mixed-use, walkable areas.
• Suburban Sprawl:
  • Single-use zones.
  • Reliance on automotive infrastructure.

Importance of Transit

• Essential for a fully walkable city.
• All transit trips begin or end with a walk.

Bicycle Infrastructure

• Correlation between bicycle infrastructure and bicycle use.
• Examples: Portland & New York City's increases in biking due to dedicated lanes.

Final Thoughts

• Importance of applying the general theory of walkability to your city.
• Focus on fixing key areas that need improvement for walkability.

Conclusion

• Appreciate urban planning focused on walkability for better city environments.
• Think about how to implement these changes in your cities.