(Steeplechase + BWF) Walkable Cities by Jeff Speck - 4 stars

[Ellen]

Revitalizing downtown areas is at the heart of this book. Creating 'walkability' is the key. This entails fewer cars, better sidewalks, bike lanes, interesting buildings and mass transit. I live 20 miles from downtown San Antonio, a beautiful city with much to offer, but there is not even a bus line that services my area. Rail lines have been consistently voted down for years. As a result, getting to the heart of the city involves driving on congested highways constantly in the throes of expansion with construction of higher and higher flyovers causing more and more traffic nightmares. The author proposes using tax dollars on transit systems, downtown housing, and reconfiguring existing roadways to be more pedestrian/bicycle friendly. It is an interesting read, one that can make the reader envious of the cities that have done everything right.