Also, when streets are widened to alleviate congestion, the traffic count increases and re-creates the congestion all over again (as well as encouraging people to live farther from work and commute by car). Contrast that with the notoriously pedestrian-unfriendly Salt Lake City where each block stretches 600 feet. Walkability also promotes physical activity and health (see Good urban form promotes walkability and physical health ). Each of these qualities is essential an none alone is sufficient. Each of these qualities is essential an none alone is sufficient. 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. The General Theory of Walkability explains how, to attract pedestrians, a place has to provide a walk that is simultaneously useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. Sign up to receive emails from IREI. Like? Similarly, there are urban planning and real estate development experts who argue that “walkability” is the ultimate indicator of the success of a real estate project or community. Yesterday is was Leigh Gallagher and today it is architect and author Jeff Speck. He writes: These fixes simply give pedestrians a fighting chance, while also embracing bikes, enhancing transit, and making downtown living attractive to a broader range of people. (from the chapter "A General Theory of Walkability" in the book Walkable City by Jeff Speck) This episode dives into Jeff Speck’s General Theory of Walkability. Speck redesigned every avenue in the 50-block downtown area by adding medians, trees, doubling the amount of on-street parking, and adding a network of bike paths. Listen to the MP3 Audio: The general theory of walkability by Jeff Speck at TEDxMidAtlantic TRANSCRIPT: The number of nineteen-year-olds who have opted out of earning driver’s licenses has almost tripled since the late seventies, from 8 percent to 23 percent. And if one looks at teens, future shifts seem likely to be greater. Real estate investors and developers have long been fond of value-add investing; taking an underperforming project and making changes that boost its fortunes. Think in terms of lots of small streets, all comfortable to walk on, and all leading to the things we need and want to do, such as work, recreation, shopping, dining, education and mass transit stations that allow us to scale greater distances. Walkable Cities by Jeff Speck. Bicycle population is a function of bicycle infrastructure, he says, pointing to how New York City vastly increased the number of cyclists by painting bike lanes a bright green, making them vivid to drivers and easy for cyclists to track. In his The General Theory of Walkability, urban designer and city planner Jeff Speck claims that walkable cities can create a more resilient economy, a healthier community, and a cleaner environment. It has remained free and ad-free and alive thanks to patronage from readers. Lead somewhere meaningful or desirable. Every fashion. Evidence is mounting that developments and … You can beam some bit-love my way: 197usDS6AsL9wDKxtGM6xaWjmR5ejgqem7. We’ve known for three decades how to make livable cities — after forgetting for four — yet we’ve somehow not been able to pull it off. He also talks of the bicycling “revolution” under way in some American cities. In 2020, I spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars keeping Brain Pickings going. He defines a walkable city as one where “the car is an optional instrument of freedom rather than a prosthetic device.” Speck states that people will choose to walk over drive if they are given a walk that is as good … The ensuing “walkability study” found the city’s streets had far more capacity (10,000 cars per day) than the number they were actually handling (3,000 to 7,000). That book is not needed. The general theory of walkability: Jeff Speck at TEDxMidAtlantic. Cities have caught on to the value-add concept, too. That cannot be accomplished with long, wide thoroughfares that leave pedestrians feeling exposed and marginalized. These three issues — wealth, health, and sustainability — are, not coincidentally, the three principal arguments for making our cities more walkable. Need to cancel a recurring donation? Freedom from cars, freedom from sprawl, freedom to walk your city! You can also become a spontaneous supporter with a one-time donation in any amount: Partial to Bitcoin? Useful means that most aspects of daily life are located close at hand and organized in a way that walking serves them well. In order for someone to walk, the walk must be: Factors Affecting Walkability •Restrict and restrain the car •Create mixed use neighbourhoods •Manage parking effectively •Support public transport The Useful Walk 1.Useful: Most aspects of daily life close at hand and well-organized 2.Safe: Streets that are designed to be safe and also feel safe to pedestrians 3.Comfortable: Urban streets as outdoor living rooms Though the build-it-and-they-will-come mentality is averse to Speck’s thinking generally, it actually works for cycling. The General Theory of Walkability explains how, to be favored, a walk has to satisfy four main conditions: it must be useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. General Theory of Walkability: Jeff Speck asserts "To be favored [over driving] a walk has to satisfy four main conditions: it must be useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting." One case in point is Oklahoma City, where the mayor hired Speck after Prevention magazine flagged it the worst city for pedestrians in the entire country. Jeff Speck, AICP, CNU-A, LEED-AP, Honorary ASLA Portland, Ore., often hailed as a supremely walkable city, slammed the brakes on that dynamic when it instituted a Skinny Streets program in residential neighborhoods, making them safer for drivers and more amenable to pedestrians. Walkable City was the best-selling city-planning book of 2013 and 2014. Portland has something else going for it: short pedestrian-friendly 200-foot blocks that walkers find easier to navigate. Go here. Videos & Interviews; The general theory of walkability: Jeff Speck at TEDxMidAtlantic. The Theory of Walkability Useful Safe Comfortable . Jeff Speck is a city planner and urban designer who, through writing, public service, and built work, advocates internationally for smart growth and sustainable design. Jeff Speck’s grandly titled General Theory of Walkability states that a journey on foot should satisfy four main conditions: be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting. 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Ben and Jon discuss the book Walkable City by Jeff Speck.They talk about why you might want to read the book and the first two sections that cover the general theory of walkability and why walkability is so central to the functioning of a great city. Every glory,” Maira Kalman observed in considering the creative capacity of walking. —. Jeff Speck is a city planner and urban designer and is the author of Walkable City.. Curated by: Max Allen. ‘General Theory of Walkability’, that for walking to be favored, it must be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting. A General Theory of Walkability - Walkable communities are the foundation of placemaking and placemaking is the foundation of economic development these days. Interesting. — If this labor has enlarged and enriched your own life this year, please consider aiding its sustenance with a one-time or loyal donation. 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