Anti-Automobile Myth

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In general, New Urbanism makes an effort to design thoroughfares where cars, pedestrians and other modes of transportation can coexist. There are other movements focused on "car-free" zones in cities or the total elimination of the car but in New Urbanism the intent is to find a balance between the need of cars and the needs of other users including pedestrians and bicyclists.

Common "pro-car" practices in New Urbanism:

- provision of on-street parking
- increased connectivity among vehicular streets
- more streets (but smaller)
- provision of vehicular alleys

How cars contribute to urban environments:

- traffic provides patrons for on-street retail
- on-street parking results in pedestrians on the sidewalk
- drivers can contribute to passive surveillance of urban areas, contributing to personal safety, if they travel at slow enough speeds to observe activity on the sidewalk
- vehicle thoroughfares are also needed to carry buses, delivery trucks, taxis and emergency vehicles that are necessary for longer-distance travel, transport of heavy loads etc.
- even pedestrians have to buy furniture

"Anti-car" practices in New Urbanism:

New Urbanist designs do tend to slow cars down (frequently this means slowing cars down to the posted speed limit using design elements rather than counting on drivers to obey posted limits).
- decreased lane width
- decreased thoroughfare width
- more frequent intersections and pedestrian crossings
- provision of space for other modes of transportation

Last edited by keh.   Page last modified on October 31, 2006