Peter Calthorpe | 7 Principles for Building Better Cities [TED]

As early as the early 1990s, Calthorpe proposed the concept of TOD and wrote "The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and the American Dream" - a concept that has now become the foundation of policies and urban planning in many regions around the world. Through his writing and practical projects, it spreads the vision of new urbanism, which is a framework for creating sustainable and humanized places.

Urbanization will continue, and the future urban population will increase by 3 billion, which will be twice the size of the current city. Our future living environment depends on how we build our cities: not only the impact on the environment, but also our social welfare, economic vitality, and our feelings for community and communication.

The greenhouse gas emissions in the Smart Growth version have significantly decreased because in California, the largest source of carbon emissions is cars. If cities no longer rely on cars as before, it will not only significantly improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, but also greatly benefit household expenses and healthcare costs.

After the 2008 financial crisis, the middle class realized that their way of life needed to change. In fact, since 2008, Los Angeles has voted to use $400 billion in bonds to build public transportation, but the budget for building highways is zero. Los Angeles wants to become a walking and bus city, not a car city.

How did it happen? Place the lanes that people dislike the least on the public transportation system, and then add multi-functional development zones to meet people's new housing needs, and build exciting commercial communities that are more comprehensive, interesting, and suitable for walking.

Chongqing is a city with a population of 30 million, almost as many as California.

This is a small development zone with a population of 4.5 million, and they want us to test alternative urban sprawl solutions in some cities in China. The most important point in this picture is that each circle represents a walking area, and the center of the circle is the public transportation system. They have invested a lot of money in the construction of subways and rapid transit, and are reasonably distributed so that everyone can walk to work.

The red area is even more powerful. Overnight, all design principles shifted towards pursuing green spaces and protecting ecological features.

Other streets are closed to vehicular traffic.

They did not flatten the trees on the shore or build houses by the river, but instead brought the previously uncommon concept of green belts into China, starting from our experimental actions in this area.

The urban structure here is composed of small blocks, each of which may have 500 households. They get to know each other.

There are shops on both sides of the street, and residents have places to go.

The streets have become smaller because the number has increased.

A very simple and direct urban design concept.

Another thing I really like: imagine it. If only one-third of people have cars, why should we give all the right to use the streets to cars?

If we give up 70% of the streets to pedestrian streets and pedestrians, public transportation can provide better services. They can choose to walk, choose to ride bicycles

In Beijing, no matter what measures are taken or how many loop roads are built, they cannot solve the problem of traffic congestion.

This is a pedestrian street with comprehensive utilization areas on both sides and a bus system in the middle. I would love to see the bus system using autonomous vehicles.

At present, there are seven principles that have been accepted by the highest level of the Chinese government and are ready to be implemented.

These principles are very simple and I think they also apply to other countries.

1: Protecting the natural environment, preserving history, and protecting critical agriculture.

2: Mixed development. The mixture referred to here refers to different income groups, age groups, and the comprehensive use of land.

3: Emphasize walking. All great cities welcome you to stroll through them, otherwise you wouldn't go there. The resort you went to is definitely a place to take a walk. So why not turn everything into this?

4: Bicycle priority. Bicycles are the most efficient mode of transportation. China has adopted policies to establish six meter wide bicycle lanes on each street. They really want to return to the era of cycling.

5: This is a relatively complex planning: connectivity.

This is a street network that allows for multiple combinations of routes, not just a single route, but also the construction of a variety of streets.

6: The public transportation system requires more investment, there are no shortcuts, and autonomous cars cannot help us solve the problem. In fact, compared to traditional cars, unmanned vehicles generate more traffic flow and more vehicle mileage.

7: Concentration. We have a hierarchical public transportation system in the city, which is a significant change compared to old-fashioned old cities with highways as hubs. However, these two forms must be reconnected to reconstruct the city's structure.

I am full of hope for this. In California, the United States, and China, these changes are widely accepted.

I am full of hope for two reasons.

Firstly, most people understand. They agree from the bottom of their hearts that a great city can and must have a great appearance;

The second reason is that such analysis results can play a role in connecting people and building unprecedented alliances. And then let them establish the community we long for.

From: Peter Calthorpe