Assessing the social and environmental achievements of New Urbanism: evidence from Portland, Oregon.
October 27, 2025Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change
October 27, 2025Research Article
Testing the Claims of New Urbanism: Local Access, Pedestrian Travel, and Neighboring Behaviors
By Lund, H.
Full Citation
Lund, H. (2003). Testing the Claims of New Urbanism: Local Access, Pedestrian Travel, and Neighboring Behaviors. Journal of the American Planning Association, 69(4), 414–429.
Key Findings
This study finds evidence for at least two claims of smart growth or New Urbanism: (1) when combined with pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, locating everyday amenities such as parks and retail shops within a neighborhood can increase pedestrian travel and neighbor interaction within a community, and (2) people who walk around their neighborhood are more likely to interact with and form relationships with their neighbors.
