Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Jeff Speck

What the Last Decade Has Done for the Walkability Movement

Left: Cody Lannom, CC”. Right: Courtesy Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Jeff Speck. Photo: Michael Brands.
Jeff Speck. Photo: Michael Brands

In 2012, Jeff Speck’s Walkable City sparked a conversation about why pedestrianized places matter and became one of the best-selling books about the built environment in recent memory. Ten years later, though, so much about the world has changed — even as human-centered communities have become more important than ever.

On this episode of The Brake, host Kea Wilson sits down with Speck to talk about an update to his classic book featuring 100 pages of new material, and how new technology, pandemics, and the movement to make cities anti-racist have reshaped his view of America’s transportation future.

And along the way, he shares some of the highlights from his reading list, and how his goals as a pedestrian advocate are continuing to evolve.

Check it out below, on Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you listen, and read an exclusive preview of Walkable City: 10th Anniversary Edition here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Why Transit Advocates Aren’t 100% Behind This Senator’s Bold Bill To Slash Highway Funding

A new Republican bill could bring rampant highway overspending to a halt and slash emissions by one-fifth. But don't get too excited because it would hurt transit, too.

March 17, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines Are Underwater

More and more people can't afford their car payments or associated costs — which wouldn't be as big of a problem if they had a choice other than driving.

March 17, 2026

Opinion: The Hidden Costs of Free Transportation

How charging for infrastructure creates better mobility options for everyone.

March 17, 2026

What If The Rising Costs of Car Dependency Were As Visible As Gas Prices?

Gas station billboards remind U.S. residents every day that driving is getting more expensive. What if they told a different message about the high costs of our autocentric transportation system?

March 16, 2026

Hired Actors, Paid Media: Big Tech Has Dumped $8M Into Car Insurance Rate Cut

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's scheme to bring down insurance costs is backed by Uber cash and ads with professional actors.

March 16, 2026

Monday’s Headlines Zero In

Traffic deaths are going down, and they'd decline further if cities stopped letting residents block safety projects.

March 16, 2026
See all posts