Comments on: The Economic Argument for Walkability http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/07/the-economic-argument-for-walkability/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/07/the-economic-argument-for-walkability/comment-page-1/#comment-133851 Mark Walker Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:49:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=64391#comment-133851 If the city is going to radically expand its population, it had better also radically expand the subway. Right now that doesn't seem to be happening. And no combination of surface transit modes could possibly support a major population expansion. If the city is going to radically expand its population, it had better also radically expand the subway. Right now that doesn’t seem to be happening. And no combination of surface transit modes could possibly support a major population expansion.

]]> By: T. Caine http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/07/the-economic-argument-for-walkability/comment-page-1/#comment-133751 T. Caine Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:10:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=64391#comment-133751 Mathew, good article. Walkability is a joy that many people never get to fully experience and appreciate as a part of daily life. As an NYC resident, I can attest to the amazing feeling of walking four blocks to work. Life gets a lot easier (and seems to have a lot more spare time) when all of your necessities are within a half-mile walk. The only thing I would disagree with is the idea that cities like New York have reached capacity. Far from it. We have already seen changes in neighborhoods like Chelsea, Gramercy and Murray Hill from the low rise buildings to new high rise apartments/condos. New towers are popping up in the Lower East Side and property is already changing hands in the East Village. Though it may be fifty to seventy five years away, I think Manhattan can double its number of occupants. Then, of course, there is the other four boroughs which are no where near their limit of density and development. The inherent reflexive benefit to all participants of urban density make it one of our greatest boons to efficiency. Build more, I say. Mathew, good article. Walkability is a joy that many people never get to fully experience and appreciate as a part of daily life. As an NYC resident, I can attest to the amazing feeling of walking four blocks to work. Life gets a lot easier (and seems to have a lot more spare time) when all of your necessities are within a half-mile walk.

The only thing I would disagree with is the idea that cities like New York have reached capacity. Far from it. We have already seen changes in neighborhoods like Chelsea, Gramercy and Murray Hill from the low rise buildings to new high rise apartments/condos. New towers are popping up in the Lower East Side and property is already changing hands in the East Village. Though it may be fifty to seventy five years away, I think Manhattan can double its number of occupants. Then, of course, there is the other four boroughs which are no where near their limit of density and development.

The inherent reflexive benefit to all participants of urban density make it one of our greatest boons to efficiency. Build more, I say.

]]> By: Jeremy Heffner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/07/the-economic-argument-for-walkability/comment-page-1/#comment-131191 Jeremy Heffner Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:28:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=64391#comment-131191 Very interesting post. My colleague Aaron Ogle was in NY at the conference, so it will be interesting to hear his thoughts as well. We just launched a walkability calculator beta for Philadelphia at http://walkshed.org Very interesting post. My colleague Aaron Ogle was in NY at the conference, so it will be interesting to hear his thoughts as well. We just launched a walkability calculator beta for Philadelphia at http://walkshed.org

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