Can Pedestrian Life Survive?

The holidays remind columnist Roberta Gratz about how quickly pedestrian life is fading from most communities.

1 minute read

December 30, 2001, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Except for a handful of great and walkable cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston, storefronts with black glass, drawn curtains, and papered-over windows are more common. A promising year round opportunity to strengthen pedestrian-oriented centers is assuredly being overlooked. What’s more, we’re gradually eroding our downtown holiday economy along with erasing the opportunity to simply observe American creativity... If America’s downtowns really want to get more customers out of their cars and onto their feet sidewalks must serve as pedestrian boulevards distinguished by interesting sights and appealing destinations."

Thanks to Keith Schneider

Saturday, December 29, 2001 in Michigan Land Use Institute

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