Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Fixing the Great Mistake

Revisiting Donald Appleyard’s “Livable Streets”

You may have wondered, while watching a Streetfilm or reading a post on Streetsblog, where we got the term "livable streets."

The answer can be found in the work of Donald Appleyard, a scholar who studied the neighborhood environment and the ways planning and design can make life better for city residents. In 1981, Appleyard published "Livable Streets" based on his research into how people experience streets with different traffic volumes.

Today we're revisiting Appleyard's work in the second installment of our series, "Fixing the Great Mistake." This video explores three studies in "Livable Streets" that measured, for the first time, the effect of traffic on our social interactions and how we perceive our own homes and neighborhoods.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Friday Video: Are We All Living in a ‘Carspiracy’?

How does "car-brain" shape the way we think about the world — even in relatively bike-friendly countries like the U.K.?

July 26, 2024

Deranged Driver Blows Through Brooklyn Open Streets Barriers

An unhinged motorist plowed through open streets barriers on Hoyt Street in Brooklyn seconds after volunteers set them up earlier this month.

July 26, 2024

Analysis: Can Hochul Be Sued into Overturning Her ‘Unlawful’ Congestion Pricing Pause?

Will either suit win — or, more important, force Hochul to settle?

July 26, 2024

Eric the Relic: In Blaming Dead Pedestrians, Adams Seizes Long-Discredited and Hateful Messaging

It's a time-honored car culture tactic: If you can’t or won’t protect pedestrians, make them take the rap.

July 25, 2024
See all posts