NewVistas

Many cities are looking for ways to make themselves hospitable to bicycles and walking. Such measures can reduce environmental impacts and enhance quality of life, which are characteristics of sustainable prosperity.

Issues and Questions

People Don't Walk

Article (NBC News, Yeager 2009) claims that, according to a recent poll, the average person spends 56 hours a week planted "like a geranium" - staring at a computer screen, driving, or sitting in front of a TV.

This ingenious illustration reveals how much space we give to cars

"In the image, Jilg depicts city streets as gorges, crosswalks as wobbly planks, and sidewalks as shallow ledges to show how little space pedestrians are allowed to inhabit in a typical intersection."

NewVistas Model

Description and Targets

A NewVistas community is completely walkable. Bicycles are a more convenient form of transportation than automobiles in many cases. Limited vehicular transportation is accomplished in an underground podway so as not to interfere with pedestrians above ground.

 

Targets:

1. 90% of all destinations within walking distance

2. Help NewVistas residents understand the value of walking and to choose to do it because it is both convenient and right

Other Information

Health, Financial, and Social Benefits of Walkability

Paper (Tyler 2010) discusses how the NewVistas walkable layout facilitates better health, financial savings, increased property values, and increased social participation.

What Your Street Grid Reveals About Your City

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/12/what-your-street-grid-reveals-about-your-city/7746/

The Walkability Effect

Article (Avellone, 2011) argues that density above 7 living units per acre (4480 units per square mile) with a mix of uses is required for sustainability. NewVistas achieves 5760 living units per square mile.

Walkable Community Design and Children's Physical Activity

Paper (Robert B. Stevens and Barbara B Brown 2011) shows that children in a walkable designed community based on LEED-ND were more active overall than children in a traditionally designed community.

The Walkable City

Video (Jeff Speck 2013) TED talk makes the case that well planned highly dense cities are more sustainable and health statistics are proportional to walkability. NewVistas would likely set the record for walkability.

Removing Obstacles

Web page points to articles, studies, and other information about removing obstacles to walkable urban design.

WALKArlington: Walkable Community

Website (Arlington County Government 2010) describes Arlington, Virginia's efforts and plans to create a vibrant walkable community in the downtown and residential districts. Covers overarching walkable community principles, design and features that encourage walking.

Getting around Venice

Blog post (Jessica, Italylogue, 2010) describes the best ways to get around Venice using public and private canal transportation.

Actv - Venice

Website shows both land and canal routes that can be used to get around the city. Actv is the public transit authority for Venice, Italy. There are only two parking lots in the entire city and almost zero driveable streets.

Times Square Pedestrian Zone a Success

Article (NVF, Crozby 2010) describes the results of Times Square and Herald Square - a few blocks to the south on Broadway - being converted into vehicle-free pedestrian zones.

CarFree City USA

Website provides general information about car-free urban areas and some of the benefits of such areas.

List of Car-Free Places

Wikipedia article lists car-free urban areas throughout the world. Many of these areas have restricted vehicles access for emergencies and freight delivery, similar to the system that will be implemented in New Vista.