The general theory of walkability | Jeff Speck | TEDxMidAtlantic

Jeff Speck is a city planner and urban designer who, through writing, public service, and built work, advocates internationally for smart growth and sustainable design. The Christian Science Monitor called his recent book, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time, "timely and important, a delightful, insightful, irreverent work."
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@brandondye2070]

I would love for this guy to come to my city and talk to our city government. Not having a car will lead you to never being able to get anywhere. Every aspect of the city planning seems to almost be the dead opposite of walkability.

[@hansistein6325]

I wish Jeff had mentioned seniors' needs to sit occasionally: the absence of public benches. Many downtowns have few if any benches to sit on, even at bus stops. As we are an aging population in N. America, wouldn't this little factor be important?

[@NiMi93]

Had he gotten more into the 'recreation' sub category, than communal space would definitely have been talked about..focusing on the population needs/dynamics

[@koolever3]

Chicago removed many of their benches to deter the homeless sleeping on then. It was terrible, people who actually needed them turned over newspaper bins and sat on them while waiting for the bus.

[@zmojofoot76]

I wish this video had more traction from when it was released and with as much people who are interested in this today back we could make more changes and maybe help slow climate change ever so slightly

[@BenjaminScarbro]

Really enjoy his presentations. I wonder if there's anything to add to the General Theory of Walkability? Reason to walk, Safety, Comfortable, and Interesting are his four points.

[@russellbloodworth]

Cheers to Jeff. Incredible coverage of so many issues in 18 minutes. I am forwarding the link now!

[@JJ-bi2zm]

This is excellent, I wish Kansas City would consider these things.

[@AdityaAserkar]

Super talk! Hope it reaches the right people though...

[@alexchettiath7214]

Evansville, IN needs this man to fix our roads.

[@elizabethdavis1696]

I wish they would provide links to his other ted talks

[@redcomic619]

Great presentation. If you read his book, you'll be familiar with his points, but this adds a wonderful visual to go along with what was discussed in Walkable City.

[@bhickman6]

I shouldn't have to read his book. He had an opportunity to sell his viewpoints during TedX and he blew it.

[@saranbhatia8809]

Great talk!

[@smatiimene1444]

Waw great thank's so mutch spetialy for the traduction

[@vincewhite5087]

Great improvements

[@vincewhite5087]

I walked all over Salt Lake city

[@willrobinson6651]

I know he had a time limit, but he missed an opportunity to really sell some of his points with more specifics.

[@aaronreynolds5303]

Super talk! Hope it reaches the right people though...

[@afrikamask]

when he mentioned Salzburg as an example, I understand how this is good for walking, but on the other hand, you're constantly looking right into your neighbours apartment when looking out the window. So that can't be a best solution either.

[@biff9082]

8:47

[@nikolatasev4948]

I feel like 80% of US problems can be solved by "do things like they do in Europe" or directly "move to Europe". We have our fair share of problems, but lack of walkability is not one of them.

[@rogermichaelwillis6425]

It's one of the reasons I left the US.

[@poisonpotato1]

Ok say you have smaller block sizes and you’re trying to get to the airport from the other side of town. Too far to bike. Get in your car but now you have to stop at an intersection every 200 ft

[@Yuvraj.]

Bus, metro, get on an arterial street?

[@caty863]

You can schedule your transit better....like, leave your home earlier????

[@matthewthomas7824]

No thanks I'll keep my car.

[@aaronreynolds5303]

I wish Jeff had mentioned seniors' needs to sit occasionally: the absence of public benches. Many downtowns have few if any benches to sit on, even at bus stops. As we are an aging population in N. America, wouldn't this little factor be important?