城市化已成为目前世界上大部分国家都要面对的课题,那么,人类的城市化进程如何能与大自然和谐共处,如何给更多人的未来带来希望呢?接下来,我们就来探讨一下本届上海世博会的主题:城市让生活更美好。 0 X7 V, J# b) _3 M1 ^8 n
Gardens in the streets instead of parking places for carbon-emitting cars mean a 7% increase in your property value. Walking-only zones in city centers increase retail sales in those areas by up to 20%. Happier planet, in other words, happier people.4 h- ^2 T5 Z* {
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These results come from a recent report from Transportation Alternatives (TA), the New York City group--of which I am a board member--that advocates both for livable streets and for safe and easy biking, walking and transit use.2 R" k( I1 ~) a0 u# G
' ~& r+ Q& h2 [' s Citing the TA report, the New York Observer writes:7 `; ]& b1 G: i# X: n
2 z1 w$ i, R+ t In Grand Rapids, Mich., property values increased by nearly one-third following traffic-calming measures.
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An effort to make downtown Melbourne, Australia, more livable spurred a 50 percent pedestrian volume increase over 10 years. The number of outdoor cafes quadrupled and the number of cafe seats nearly tripled.
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After two through-traffic streets in Cambridge, England, were closed, daily traffic levels dropped by more than 7,300 vehicles with no effect on retail.' Q t% r2 ?# ?/ \- B2 y1 }
8 a3 n9 L, G1 W1 @, K A survey of shoppers in central London retail districts found that those who walked to stores spent much more over the week than those who drove.' @' @2 r B6 R
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As the Observer says, and I have to assume this would be true of most cities:2 x, m% D+ I: U9 W4 b
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"The gathering evidence suggests a sunny mantra: Design additional livable streets and New Yorkers would come—and property owners and retailers would benefit." |