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Americans are too dependent on automobiles. There are more private automobiles in this country than there are licensed drivers. Many households own three or more automobiles.
Transit is not an option for many drivers since transit services cannot be provided economically in low-density, widely-scattered suburban areas.
Relatively density, mixed-use development around transit stations reduces auto dependence. Transit-oriented development offers a clear alternative to the automobile.
Researchers have identified three dimensions, or 3-D’s, that significantly increase transit ridership and thus distinguish transit-oriented development from other urban settings:
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Density |
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Diversity |
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Design* |
*Bernick, Michael and Cervero, Robert, Transit Villages in the 21st Century, McGraw-Hill, 1997. |
