How to Make America Walkable

17 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2015 Last revised: 29 Apr 2015

See all articles by Michael Lewyn

Michael Lewyn

Touro University - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Date Written: 2014

Abstract

A recent survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors showed that 66% of Americans describe being “within an easy walk of other places” as a “very” or “somewhat” important factor in deciding where to live. But as urban planner Jeff Speck points out, many American cities and suburbs are “no-walking zones.” Streets are so wide that they seem “to take hours to walk across,” thus encouraging drivers to move so rapidly that a car/pedestrian collision is likely to be fatal. A pedestrian who survives this risky crossing often cannot easily reach other neighborhoods because of inadequate public transit. In Walkable City, Speck points out why walkability matters, and sets out a program for reform.

Note: 2014© Thomson Reuters. This article originally appeared in The Real Estate Law Journal, Volume 42 (Spring 2014). Reprinted here with permission of Thomson Reuters.

Keywords: land use, urban planning. walkable, walkability, sprawl, Jeff Speck, parking

Suggested Citation

Lewyn, Michael, How to Make America Walkable (2014). 42 Real Est. L.J. 512 (Spring 2014), Touro Law Center Legal Studies Research Paper Series No. 15-17, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2571440

Michael Lewyn (Contact Author)

Touro University - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center ( email )

225 Eastview Drive
Central Islip, NY 11722
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
179
Abstract Views
1,093
Rank
303,525
PlumX Metrics