7 principles for building better cities | Peter Calthorpe | TED
TLDRUrban designer Peter Calthorpe argues that sprawling, car-centric city planning harms communities and the environment. He advocates for mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods centered around public transit. Calthorpe believes self-driving cars could increase sprawl and congestion. He says cities should instead invest in bicycles, pedestrians, and efficient mass transit to reduce pollution and create equitable, connected communities. Calthorpe is hopeful that people intrinsically understand great city design, and that new data analysis will empower them to demand climate-friendly urban planning.
Takeaways
- ๐ Cities need to be built for 3 billion more people in the coming decades, so getting urban development right is crucial
- ๐ Sprawl isolates people and creates economic and land-use segregation, which is bad for community and the environment
- ๐ More compact, mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods reduce emissions, driving, costs, and improve health
- ๐ Los Angeles has invested heavily in transit and walking over highways thanks to recognizing the co-benefits of good urban form
- ๐ High-density sprawl also exists and creates problems in places like China with huge superblocks
- ๐ Small, mixed-use blocks where people can walk and bike leads to happier, healthier communities
- ๐ดโโ๏ธ China is now investing seriously in transit, biking, and auto-free streets for the majority who don't own cars
- ๐ Connected street networks focused on transit rather than freeways shapes better city structure
- ๐ People intrinsically understand what makes a great, walkable city even if policies have not always reflected that
- ๐ Autonomous vehicles may increase sprawl and vehicle miles traveled if not carefully implemented
Q & A
What are some key problems with urban sprawl according to Calthorpe?
-Urban sprawl isolates people, segregates them into economic and land-use enclaves, separates them from nature, and doesn't allow cross-fertilization of ideas and interactions that make cities vibrant places.
How can compact, mixed-use development help address issues like climate change?
-Compact, mixed-use development reduces reliance on cars, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions. It also creates more affordable housing options and reduces household costs for transportation and utilities.
What was significant about Los Angeles approving $400 billion for transit after 2008?
-This marked a major shift for a famously car-centric city to transform itself into a more walkable, transit-oriented urban environment.
What are some principles for better urban planning that Calthorpe discusses?
-Key principles include preserving nature and history, encouraging mixed-use development, prioritizing walkability and biking, connecting neighborhoods through street networks, investing in public transit, and focusing growth around transit hubs.
How could autonomous vehicles negatively impact cities?
-By encouraging more sprawl development and increasing vehicle miles traveled rather than promoting sustainable modes like walking, biking, and public transit.
What does Calthorpe mean when he says cities need more 'geographic equity' in their circulation systems?
-He argues that since only a minority of people own cars, only a minority of streets should prioritize cars, while the majority should focus on transit, walking, and biking.
Why is mixed-use development important according to Calthorpe?
-Mixed-use development allows for diversity - mixing incomes, ages, and land uses. This diversity creates more vibrant, equitable, and connected communities.
How can new analysis help drive positive changes in urban planning?
-New analysis allows people to understand the connections between issues like transportation, housing, health, and environment that weren't as clear before. This can bring together broader political coalitions to advocate for change.
What does Calthorpe mean when he talks about the co-benefits of good urban form?
-The co-benefits are the multiple issues, from environmental protection to social equity to economic vitality, that can all be simultaneously addressed through good urban planning and design.
What gives Calthorpe hope that cities can change for the better?
-He is hopeful because people intrinsically understand what makes great urban places, and new analysis allows people to better connect different issues, build political coalitions, and drive policy changes.
Outlines
๐ Solving climate change while building livable cities
Paragraph 1 discusses the challenge of building sustainable cities for a growing population while solving climate change. It argues that poorly designed urban sprawl isolates people, damages the environment and economy, and exacerbates climate impacts. The solution is creating connected, mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods that encourage sustainable living.
๐ฎ Urban planning for sustainability and affordability
Paragraph 2 shows analysis demonstrating compact, mixed-use development dramatically outperforms sprawl on sustainability metrics like land use, emissions, driving, and costs. It allows groups focused on single issues to recognize shared interests in quality urban design, citing an example of Los Angeles transforming itself around transit.
๐๏ธ Applying sustainable city principles globally
Paragraph 3 discusses adopting 7 universal principles for sustainable city planning globally, including preserving nature, encouraging walkability and biking, focusing growth around transit. It shows examples from China adopting these principles at scale, transforming high-density areas from isolated superblocks to connected, mixed-use neighborhoods.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กsprawl
๐กcompact development
๐กtransit
๐กgreenhouse gas emissions
๐กvehicle miles traveled
๐กmixed-use
๐กconnectedness
๐กsharing
๐กcongestion
๐กwalking
Highlights
The study finds that children exposed to green spaces have improved attention and working memory.
Researchers conducted cognitive assessments on 2500 children aged 7-10 years old in Barcelona.
Proximity to greenness was associated with better attentional function and working memory.
Every increase of one interquartile range in surrounding greenness was linked to a 2.6% increase in attentional function.
The results highlight the importance of green spaces for children's cognitive development.
The study controlled for factors like socioeconomic status, noise levels, and air pollution.
More research is needed on the specific mechanisms linking green space and cognitive benefits.
Study limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on modeled greenness exposure.
The findings support calls for integrating natural environments into urban planning and school siting decisions.
Greenness around schools may support children's cognitive health and development.
The results are consistent with previous research linking green space and cognitive function.
Future studies could examine specific types and qualities of green space for optimal cognitive benefits.
Interventions like greening schoolyards may provide cognitive benefits for children.
The study adds to evidence for the cognitive developmental benefits of nature exposure.
The findings have implications for urban planning, education, public health policy regarding green space.
Transcripts
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