New Urbanism means making the automobile less necessary

The problem: People living in low-density areas far from a city centre rely more on their cars. The solution: The New Urbanism Movement.

New Urbanism is a fancy term describing a growing interest in urban landscapes designed to make car use less necessary.


The goal is to reconfigure North American cities to accommodate a more European lifestyle where everyone lives, shops and entertains themselves close to home.

Development that discourages vehicle use is the focus of a conference today in downtown Vancouver, sponsored by Smart Growth B.C., a local group funded by donations and government grants.

The topic couldn’t be more timely, given mounting preoccupation with the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil. As energy reserves decline and climate change starts being felt, it’s becoming apparent that higher-density living is our only option.

Vancouver Sun