American streets killed more than 7500 pedestrians in 2023, a 40-year high and climbing every year. Why? City planner and walkable cities advocate Jeff Speck joins us to explain that street design is largely to blame and how modest changes could be made to increase safety, as has been done in European cities with dramatic results. Jeff uses traffic studies to show how urban planning can affect driver speed, traffic congestion, safety, and walkability—all of which can improve and restore our sense of community in the places we live. With wonderful examples of the many cities where Jeff has completed projects, this episode will get you thinking about your neighborhood and what changes you would like to see, be it more trees, pleasanter streets, or simply fewer deaths. Also, we have a new website! Check us out at https://booksshowstunes.discreetguide.com/Jeff Speck's website:https://www.speckdempsey.com/Jeff's book, Walkable City (be sure to get the Tenth Anniversary edition)https://www.amazon.com/Walkable-City-Tenth-Anniversary-Downtown/dp/1250857988The movie that Jeff mentions, The Street Projecthttps://www.amazon.com/Street-Project-Maya-Aoki-Tuttle/dp/B0B6VW7MQ3The Strong Towns Movement:https://www.strongtowns.org/The Releaf Cedar Rapids Project:https://www.cedar-rapids.org/residents/parks_and_recreation/releaf_cedar_rapids_.phpThoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://booksshowstunes.discreetguide.com/contact/Sponsored by Discreet Guide Training:https://training.discreetguide.com/Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-actsSupport us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/discreetguide

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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