Walking and Biking in a New
Urban World:
Presented by Brian Rottingen
New Urbanism:
In the mid 1990’s a
group comprised of
planners, developers,
architects, scholars,
elected officials and
citizens gathered to
form the Congress for
the New Urbanism.
The CNU would
become an influential
proponent for
sustainable living and
community design.
The Problem:
“The Congress for the New
Urbanism views disinvestment
in central cities, the spread of
placeless sprawl, increasing
separation by race and
income, environmental
deterioration, loss of
agricultural lands and
wilderness, and the erosion of
society's built heritage as one
interrelated communitybuilding challenge.” 1996
Charter of the New Urbanism
History:
After World War II, many
families (predominantly
white, middle to upper
income) left America’s
urban centers to live in
single-use suburban
developments. Personal
vehicles enabled a
dramatic separation of
residential, commercial,
and public structures.
THE PAST: mixed use
THE PRESENT: single use
History:
Prior to suburban
migration, urban
design was oriented
toward the pedestrian
rather than the
automobile.
History:
Historically, towns and
urban villages were
planned with the
prospect of positive
human interaction.
Within a five minute
walk from one’s
home, one could find
a park, post office,
house of worship, or
market.
Benefits: Walkability
Popular destinations such as
San Francisco, New
Orleans, Charleston,
Savannah, Greenwich
Village, and Key West
attract visitors not just for
their history, architecture
and entertainment, but for
the ability to walk or bike
from your guest house/
hotel room to local
attractions. A health
inducing novelty for the
vacationing suburbanite!!
Benefits: Reduced Traffic
While New Urbanism
emphasizes traditional
neighborhood planning on a
human scale, it recognizes the
necessity for vehicular access.
However, mixed use
communities with increased
density lend themselves to a
decreased reliance on costly,
dangerous and
environmentally unfriendly
personal vehicles. Jobs are
closer to home and public
transportation is economically
viable with more riders
available.
Summary:
The New Urbanism philosophy
has become a primary
component of “smart growth”
policies. Governments at the
local, state, and federal levels
recognize that building
“green” or “sustainable”
communities entails policies
that encourage developers to
contribute to the revival of
traditional neighborhoods.
Summary:
While efforts such as the
promotion of alternative
fuels and fuel efficiency
standards are a positive
measure toward
sustainability, pedestrian
and bicycle friendly
planning of communities
through mixed use
development offers
greater solutions to the
many environmental,
social and health
problems we face today.
Sprawl reduction is the
ultimate strategy.
All images were obtained from free Google image Files
with the exception of The CNU group photo.