A new neighborhood shows off the advantages of life without cars » Yale Climate Connections

Transcript:

To get around the Phoenix, Arizona area, people often need to drive on highways and wide roads that cut through sprawling developments.

But now, the real estate company Culdesac is building a new kind of neighborhood in the suburb of Tempe that is designed specifically for car-free living.

Culdesac Tempe has apartments, shops, and restaurants all connected by sidewalks and plazas where people can walk and bike.

There are no parking spots for residents, but they do get an unlimited pass on Tempe’s light rail, which has a station nearby. And residents can rent cars for longer trips.

Ryan Johnson, the company’s cofounder and CEO, says the development is about half finished. But already, over 300 people have moved in.

Johnson: “And it’s the kind of neighborhood that millions of Americans want to live in.”

He says living in walkable areas helps people connect with one another.

Johnson: “We have one resident with a family that says they’ve met more people living in six months in Culdesac than 15 years living in the suburbs.”

And the neighborhood helps residents cut their planet-warming carbon pollution because they no longer need to drive.

So Johnson hopes other cities will follow Culdesac Tempe’s lead – and build more walkable, car-free neighborhoods of their own.

Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media