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Walkability is important, density not as much. Density is just a good gauge at quickly finding possible walkable places, it can be dense and not walkable. People want to live in cities where they can walk to places and built around people. Many downtowns were very walkable, but density fairly low, albeit growing in last 10 years. Many rich old home historic neighborhoods are walkable and not dense. Many dense suburban areas that are living lots of multi families are dense on paper but not walkable.
It seems like people care more about density and walkability than things like cost of living, wages, median household income, unemployment rate, etc...
So what makes Density and Walkability so important?
Living in a place that's pedestrian-friendly and/or bike friendly can convince an individual to give up on the car and not have to deal with the hassles of car insurance (Which is often included in many COL stats) and car maintenance and of course, traffic and gas prices that can climb high during certain overseas events, seasonal weather activity, and holiday travel seasons.
Generally speaking, I think density and walkability have become much more in vogue in the US in recent years due to several different factors:
Cost-Benefit Reasons
- The growing expenses of owning a car (fuel and insurance). - Traffic congestion/commuting times beginning to severely affect quality of life.
- Cost of building/maintaining auto infrastructure is simply not sustainable at current rates.
Cultural Reasons
- Placing higher value on unique, historic places (which by and large are our urban cores) in an era of "sameness" and globalization.
- Valuing more social interaction/connection/experiences and "cultural enrichment" -- this is much better facilitated by in an urban/walkable environment than a less-dense environment.
It's important to note that prior to the great era of suburbanization in the US, density/walkability weren't seen as "trendy" -- it was the norm. It just seems that we are finally returning to those roots.
Agreed fully with this post, especially with the part in bold as the population continues to get bigger. Essentially doubling or even tripling the amount of cars on the highways, turning them into massive parking lots stretching for miles upon miles upon miles.
There is a pretty wide selection of affordable eco friendly cars now days
Traffic is worse in cities that are more dense compared to spread out cities
Building roads and freeways is much cheaper than building rail lines and train cars
Building roads for private car transit is WAY more expensive than building mass transit for the masses! I've heard that argument before too but it has no weight when u consider the apples to apples comparison of building both networks to support 80% or more of the population.
Walkability is important, density not as much. Density is just a good gauge at quickly finding possible walkable places, it can be dense and not walkable. People want to live in cities where they can walk to places and built around people. Many downtowns were very walkable, but density fairly low, albeit growing in last 10 years. Many rich old home historic neighborhoods are walkable and not dense. Many dense suburban areas that are living lots of multi families are dense on paper but not walkable.
You could compare Boston and Miami to illustrate your point. Both cities have roughly 12,000 people per square mile, but Boston is much more walkable. Sometimes it depends on how the city is set up.
I'm not sure what is so enticing about the density of New York City where all the streets are teeming with people, you'd be hard pressed to find a spot in the city where you can enjoy peace and quiet. There's something to be desired about living in the suburbs, a small town, out in the country, or just a more spaced out neighborhood right by the city. Space, peace, land of your own, a car, less noise, less stress, less busy. I don't know, perhaps that way of thinking and the people who clamor for that kind of life is shrinking.
I have to respectfully disagree with you on your last point. Sure, there are a lot of people all over NYC, there are still plenty of places to get some peace and quiet. Even Manhattan has some nice parks uptown where there are very few people, and lots of peace and quiet. Plus, Staten Island has more of a suburban feel and there are many places that most people would never believe were NYC. Same with with Queens and parts of the Bronx and Brooklyn.
You could compare Boston and Miami to illustrate your point. Both cities have roughly 12,000 people per square mile, but Boston is much more walkable. Sometimes it depends on how the city is set up.
That's a perfect illustration of "walkable" vs. "densely populated" and how they are not always two of the sme thing!
It seems like people care more about density and walkability than things like cost of living, wages, median household income, unemployment rate, etc...
So what makes Density and Walkability so important?
Well, this is the urban planning forum and not the economy forum. Density and walkability are a lot more directly a part of urban planning than cost of living, wages, median household income, etc. Everyone agrees cost of living should be low and wages and household income should be high, of course :-)
Well, this is the urban planning forum and not the economy forum. Density and walkability are a lot more directly a part of urban planning than cost of living, wages, median household income, etc. Everyone agrees cost of living should be low and wages and household income should be high, of course :-)
This was moved from the General US forum to the Urban Planning forum.
It seems like people care more about density and walkability than things like cost of living, wages, median household income, unemployment rate, etc...
So what makes Density and Walkability so important?
For a few years I lived in a medium density area that was very walkable, I walked to work, to the store, to eat, to bars, etc. After my first 6 months there I lost 25 pounds, and this is without changing my diet. To me, walkability means there is a lot to do and see within a relatively short walking distance. So walkability is healthier, more social, better for the environment, cheaper, more engaging etc.
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