This is a really good book that tied into the other city planning books I've read this year.

There are 10 steps in creating walkable cities. They are all explained in the book really well, and the expanded edition I read further explained and updated a lot of them.

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 faces.

10. Pick your winners. ( )

Really like this one--I'm on an urban-planning kick, and to a certain extent some books are running into others--but Speck's background (he's worked with Duany and Plater-Zyberk) and his focus on real, specific suggestions for improving cities, kept this book humming along.

I've learned so many things that I'd never even considered before, an example would be his suggestion that metered street parking be priced high enough that it's only ever around 85% full--because if too cheap, too many people will opt to drive, not find anywhere to park, and drive around and around, circling, until finally they luck into a spot (one study showed that after 6:00pm, in their particular city the vast majority of traffic downtown consisted of hopeful parkers circling, which is self-evidentally a horrid unenvironmental practice).

This sort of sensible, data-driven, obvious-when-pointed-out information permeates the pages. Greatly recommended.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). ( )

This was more amusing and informative than I expected. I am seriously considering getting a copy for each of our city council members. ( )

I live in a very walkable area, and recently relocated to an even more connected neighborhood. I found myself nodding along with much of this book. It's great to be able to walk safely, but it's even better when there's a reason to walk. Being able to do my shopping on foot and being able to easily connect to a wider transportation grid is life changing. I already rolled my eyes every time I walked past the new apartments with a giant garage being built directly across the street from a subway station with plentiful zipcars one block away, but now I want to knock heads together. ( )

Awesome introduction to strong cities based on walkability as a necessary condition for generating that strength.

Part 1, Why Walkability: Exposition connecting walkability to desirable cities, improved public health and safety, and more efficient use of resources.

Part 2, The Ten Steps of Walkability: A city planning framework to build towards effective, walkable urbanism. Covers cars, parking, transit, pedestrians, public spaces, bikes, trees, and more. Examples include both large and small cities, some of which are the author's own projects. It's nice to see that this isn't presented as a one-size-fits-all solution—these steps are prescribed with a sensitivity to the size and existing conditions of a given city. ( )