Many have read the StrongTowns Curbside Chat booklet. For those who haven’t, it remains recommended reading.
In Petaluma,
the culmination of the StrongTowns discussion came last week, when StrongTowns
founder Charles Marohn participated in a video chat, including a question and
answer session. We asked Marohn about
how to do a survey to assess our local infrastructure issues. He provided some general guidance.
We also asked
about his position on economic stimulus during hard times. Marohn is known for describing “shovel-ready
projects” as the projects that a municipality designed but then shelved because
they were so financially ridiculous. The
plans only come off the shelf when the federal government offers free money.
Marohn was
ambivalent about the role of stimulus, but concluded that if stimulus is used,
he’d suggest that it only be for maintenance.
It’s also
good to note the press is beginning to recognize the StrongTowns works. In this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a reporter consults local
tax rolls to determine the validity of the StrongTowns argument. He
finds exactly what StrongTowns told him to expect.
But all good
things must end. The StrongTowns theory
will remain something to which I’ll return when it’s appropriate to the
conversation. Which I expect to be
frequently. But for the next few months,
walkability will take a leading role in this blog. Not in every post, but walkability will have
a recurring place.
With a
particular role will be Jeff Speck’s recent book, “Walkable City”. A month ago, I noted that “Walkable City” was
the hot book in urbanism as 2013 dawned. Nothing
has changed since then, with Speck doing talks across the country as his book
attracts broad interest.
Speck’s
public role includes this podcast with Marohn of StrongTowns interviewing Speck (click on
Podcast #127) and this YouTube
video with Sacramento Press interviewing Speck. For those who know the downtown grid of
Sacramento (I spent my high school years in a suburb of Sacramento), Speck’s Sacramento
Press comments have particular pertinence.
To give an
overview of the book, Speck begins by making the case for walkability, covering
a range of motivations for more walkable places, including property values, public
health, climate change, and infrastructure.
He concludes by noting that for a route to be walkable, it must be
useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting.
(In the StrongTowns podcast, he notes that walkability efforts in the U.S.
have typically focused only on safe. And
haven’t done that particularly well.)
Speck then
offers design strategies for providing those four elements of successful
walkability.
I’ve
completed much of the book and found it remarkably accessible, insightful, and
motivational. I look forward to sharing
thoughts about it with you.
Also, Petaluma
Urban Chat has selected “Walkable City” as their next reading assignment. If you live near Petaluma, you’re encouraged
to join us on March 12 for a discussion.
As spring
approaches, let’s get walkable.
As always,
your questions or comments will be appreciated.
Please comment below or email me.
And thanks for reading. - Dave Alden (davealden53@comcast.net)
Walking is probably the lowest common denominator single-best exercise for people in general. Yet many people get in a car and burn fossil fuel in order to walk (and for other forms of human-powered exercise). Something is wrong with this on many levels. I suspect improving walkability in both urban and no-urban environments would make the country healthier at both macro- and micro-levels of society and individuals, including the economy and maybe even civility. Of course, that's me. I walk. It's good company.
ReplyDeleteBarry, thanks for the comment. Speck writes on the public health issues around walking. Also, there is a recent Danish study that correlates walking to school with academic success. Lots of benefits.
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