Jeff Speck: The walkable city

Really good talk. I used to live in The Netherlands, where everyone cycles everywhere, and the people are visibly healthier than say in the UK. People are also more cordial in their interactions and apologise when they get in each other's way rather than honking the horn and unleashing a torrent of abuse as happens in cars. And it just makes cities nicer places to live instead of somewhere to commute to for work.

I came across this video while binging TED talks almost a decade ago, and it was literally life-changing! I saved up money for years and moved from a Dallas suburb to Seattle. Now I can literally just go downstairs to get groceries, see my dentist, ship packages, or enjoy burgers, Thai, Italian, Mexican, and many other delicious food options. All without the expense, time, or life-threatening risk of using a car! Rent is higher, but it was balanced by no longer needing to buy, insure, or maintain a vehicle, and I'm living a happier and healthier life.

Can't agree more. I live in Toronto and I thought it could use a lot more work to become more walkable. Then I visited Houston....

16:37 "The Americans can be counted on to do the right thing, once they've exhausted the alternatives" lol

People need to realize that having a walkable city doesn't mean you will be living in New York City, or that you will have to live under the domination of a HOA. It's not about having to walk everywhere either. Dig deeper into the topic and you will find that it would create a better situation for everyone. Creating more efficient transportation and infrastructure (less taxes), while allowing for the privacy and sense of community found in rural areas.

I agree so much!! My family's car broke down this week so we're left without a car and it's drastically changed our daily lives this week. We literally cannot get around.

This was the first Ted Talk that ever spoke to me. Here I am, years later, watching this again. Ah, nostalgia...

Walkable city just means you have the option to walk to most things you need to. If you choose to make that 2 minute drive, he's not saying you should be stopped. Giving people that option itself solves most of the said problems.

When I am walking around I tend to bump into people and that makes me happy. I love the spontaneity of it

exactly what I thought when I was living in Europe, I wish more people knew about the impact of walkable cities

i think he's saying that it can be cheaper to live in walkable cities. Cars are expensive to buy, maintain, insure, licence, and keep fueled. Also walking around a city is quicker than driving long-distances around express-ways (and time is money). Your location itself, and reliance on cars, may be exacerbating your financial situation. Hell, you'll even save money on medical expenses: Less car crashes means less visits to the trauma ward. And you'll be healthier in general from walking.

"The Geography if Nowhere" is one of the most influential books on this topic I have ever read. Thumb this comment up so more people know to read it.

16:45 - girl: "it's so true."

Thanks for that clarification. When he said "Boston" I was like "Wow, if Boston is what qualifies as a walkable city in the US, that's a whole different idea of what that means than I had." Boston has a lot of parks which is nice. It also has some nice streets. But to get from one nice spot to the other without a car is not a pleasant experience.

I wish I lived in a walkable city.

Thinking of our current lockdown amidst the pandemic ... walkability for exercise has become everything to people who have no other activities and cannot go to a gym. This (among so many other things) should help serve as a wake up call.

We do not have a problem with walkability in Prague, Czech Republic, but as the city expands outwards, many residential areas are emerging which are not walkable and do not have any of the services needed in a well-functioning neighborhood.

An area where I live has rentalable bikes, scan the barcode with your phone to unlock it, pay to ride to wherever, then lock it back, and leave it anywhere you want

I know this is an old talk, but he really hits the nail on the head. A cracking talk.

De las mejores conferencias que he visto en TED