Cars are the problem, not the solution

From an online blatherfest about the car-free European town article linked here a few days ago, at least one of the participants (blatherers?) has it right:

No Half-Steps, No Cars

J.H. Crawford is the author of “Carfree Cities” and “Carfree Design Manual.” He publishes Carfree.com.

Proof is essentially mathematical that car-free cities are possible in the modern world (as if the existence of Venice and Fes-al-Bali in Morocco were not sufficient proof enough). We can offer a high quality of life at a far lower cost to the Earth’s ecosystems. It would also save plenty of money.

The energy savings are large and come not just in motor fuel. Heating and cooling require much less energy because buildings share common walls. Much less water is required. Far more land is left untouched.

I support the New Urbanism but strongly prefer the pure car-free solution, as the advantages are even greater. Once the last car disappears from the street, it becomes a playground for people of all ages. This can be seen any day in Venice or Fes. Peace, safety and tranquility settle over the street, and a rich and vibrant social life takes the place of the stink, noise, and danger of cars.

Local shops and services are essential. Good public transport is required except in the small cities.

Rail systems offer the best service. Bikes will be important in most cases. Walking is the mainstay, and routine shops and services, including schools, must be within walking distance, say five minutes.

All of this requires moderately high density. Anyone who has visited Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon or Siena already knows what this feels like. Boston’s Beacon Hill and Back Bay neighborhoods could readily be made carfree. Washington Mews in Manhattan is a tiny slice of carfree life right in our midst.

Streets are quite narrow, buildings are about four stories tall, and, in the best practice, there is a large green courtyard in the heart of each block.

We don’t yet have car-free cities in North America. This is mainly a failure of imagination. Americans are so used to driving everywhere that the mere thought of being without a car is terrifying. But life without urban cars is not only possible, it is delightful.