More Sidewalks = Less Traffic

A study from the Washington State Department of Transportation looked at the impact of various community design strategies on travel and carbon emissions. Among the findings: filling in a community's sidewalk network so that 70% of streets offer safe pedestrian space reduces vehicular travel by 3.4% and carbon emissions by 4.9%. Other factors, such as a mix of land use and changes in the price of parking, also reduced vehicular travel and emissions.