Can Urban Form Be Harnessed to Reduce Driving?
Given the problems confronting reductions in tailpipe emissions, even as mileage and congestion continue to increase, what alternative approaches are promising? Recently, many urban planners and architects have suggested that returning to traditional city and neighborhood design could reduce auto ownership, VMT and cold starts. Traditional cities grew up around pedestrians, and residents could conveniently walk, bicycle or take transit to most jobs. These neighborhoods had corner markets and other nearby commerce. They were so complete that many residents seldom left them. These areas are now the central and adjacent areas of our older cities and some of the older suburbs. Some are abandoned. Could restoring these areas benefit air quality? The hypothesis to be tested is that increased convenience, pedestrian amenities and transit service in our neighborhoods would decrease driving and cold starts by increasing accessibility. Increasing density and allowing mom and pop groceries, resta
