The Ten Steps of Walkability

Kaid Benfield, writing for his Switchboard blog, has an excellent overview and commentary on Jeff Speck’s new book, Walkable City:

In Jeff Speck’s excellent new book, Walkable City, he suggests that there are ten keys to creating walkability. Most of them also have something to do with redressing the deleterious effects caused by our allowing cars to dominate urban spaces for decades. I don’t necessarily agree with every detail, and my own list might differ in some ways that reflect my own experience and values. But it’s a heck of a good menu to get city leaders and thinkers started in making their communities more hospitable to walkers.

Kaid relays the ten steps of walkability as laid out by Jeff:

1. Put cars in their place.
2. Mix the uses.
3. Get the parking right.
4. Let transit work.
5. Protect the pedestrian.
6. Welcome bikes.
7. Shape the spaces.
8. Plant trees.
9. Make friendly and unique [building] faces.
10. Pick your winners.

There is too much good stuff to pick out from the article, so I suggest heading over to the original and reading the whole thing. It’s well worth the time.