The Strong Towns Podcast 3 Reasons This Is a Great Time for Walkable Streets
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Apr 17, 2025 Explore why the current moment is a golden opportunity for promoting walkable streets and bike-friendly spaces. Discover how small investments can drastically improve community well-being. Learn about the outdated economic models hampering urban planning and the substantial financial benefits of walkable neighborhoods. Delve into the misalignment of federal funding with local needs and the importance of human-centered design. Finally, uncover practical strategies for enhancing safety and livability through local community involvement.
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Fragile Growth
- Post-WWII America saw economic growth fueled by private debt, not just government spending.
- This led to multiple financial crises, revealing the fragility of the growth-based model.
Walkability's ROI
- Walkable and bikeable infrastructure offers the highest return on investment for local governments.
- Even neglected walkable areas outperform modern auto-oriented developments financially.
Two Churches
- Chuck Marohn contrasts two bike-walk projects in his town, one poorly planned and one successful.
- The successful project focused on existing needs and built community support.
