Jeff Speck: The walkable city
TED・15 minutes read
Living in walkable neighborhoods is crucial for sustainability and well-being, with urban planning decisions in cities like Portland leading to economic benefits and reduced health issues, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing community design over individual green efforts. The focus on sustainable living should shift towards creating walkable cities with adequate public transportation, as seen in successful examples like Vancouver and Dusseldorf, to improve quality of life and reduce environmental impact.
Insights
- Portland, Oregon's urban planning decisions in the 1970s focused on walkability, skinny streets, and investing in biking and walking infrastructure, leading to a 20% decrease in vehicle miles traveled per day and increased spending on recreation, showcasing the economic benefits of such measures.
- Walkable neighborhoods have been linked to lower obesity rates, with a 35% likelihood of being overweight in less walkable areas compared to 60% in more walkable neighborhoods, emphasizing the crucial role of urban planning in promoting healthier lifestyles and combating health issues.
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Recent questions
How can urban planning improve sustainability?
By focusing on walkability, investing in biking infrastructure.
What are the benefits of living in a walkable neighborhood?
Lower obesity rates, increased economic benefits, and improved quality of life.
How do denser cities contribute to environmental sustainability?
By consuming less gasoline and electricity than suburbs.
What is the impact of urban planning on quality of life?
Urban planning can improve health, economics, and overall well-being.
How can cities address pollution and improve well-being?
By making cities more walkable and promoting sustainable urban planning.
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Summary
00:00
"Urban Planning for Sustainability and Health"
- The speaker is a city planner, urban designer, former arts advocate, trained in architecture and art history, discussing how America can be more economically resilient, healthier, and environmentally sustainable.
- Suburban sprawl is a detrimental American idea being emulated globally, leading to landscape reorganization around automobile use, causing economic strain and health issues.
- Portland, Oregon, made urban planning decisions in the 1970s that set it apart from other cities, focusing on walkability, skinny streets, and investing in biking and walking infrastructure.
- Portland's changes led to a decrease in vehicle miles traveled per day, with residents driving 20% less than the national average, resulting in economic benefits and increased spending on recreation.
- Walkable neighborhoods correlate with lower obesity rates, with studies showing a 35% likelihood of being overweight in less walkable areas compared to 60% in more walkable neighborhoods.
- Environmentalists shifted focus towards urban living, with denser cities like Manhattan consuming less gasoline and electricity than suburbs, emphasizing the environmental benefits of city living.
- The speaker criticizes the current focus on gadgets and accessories for sustainability, highlighting the significant impact of living in a walkable neighborhood close to public transportation over individual green additions.
- Changing all light bulbs to energy-saving ones saves as much energy in a year as moving to a walkable city does in a week, emphasizing the importance of urban planning for sustainability and health.
14:21
"Walkable Cities Improve Quality of Life"
- The Mercer Survey ranks nations based on 10 criteria for quality of life, including health, economics, education, and housing, with walkable cities like Vancouver and German-speaking cities like Dusseldorf and Vienna ranking higher due to lower fuel consumption.
- Living in a walkable neighborhood is posited as a key factor in sustainability and quality of life, suggesting that making cities more walkable could address issues of pollution and improve overall well-being, with examples of successful implementation globally and in the US.
