Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Friday Video

Friday Video: What the U.S. Can Learn About Street Design From Tokyo

No sidewalks? No problem.

Photo: Still from City Beautiful

With just 12 percent of trips taken by car and one of the densest development patterns in the entire world, Tokyo is worlds away from most auto-dominated U.S. cities. Some advocates argue, though, that American urbanists can learn more from the Japanese capital than we think — if we open our minds to a new set of solutions.

Check out this recent City Beautiful Video, where host Dave Amos reflects on a recent trip to the Big Mikan and how simple actions like slashing parking, focusing on transit, and cracking down on bike theft have resulted in streets so safe and accessible they don't even need sidewalks.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Krakow is a Polish Pedestrian Paradise

Check out how car drivers simply stop for pedestrians — and not just pedestrians in a crosswalk, but also pedestrians about to enter a crosswalk or even just thinking about maybe entering a crosswalk.

July 25, 2025

Friday Video: The Secret to Getting People Biking In a Hilly City

Steep streets don't have to put a stop to your city's cycling future.

July 25, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Look to the Future

Despite some minor reforms around the edges under President Biden, U.S. transportation remains a car-centric anachronism.

July 25, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Measuring Transportation System Success

Karel Martens on how transportation engineering is good at finding problems but not solving them — and a new tool to measure policy success.

July 24, 2025

What Will It Take to Automatically Brick Drivers’ Cell Phones Behind the Wheel?

The technology to stop cell phone use behind the wheel has existed for years. Why are so few drivers using it – and why aren't lawmakers making them?

July 24, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines See Mixed Results

It's easier to commit to Vision Zero as a concept than it is to actually implement its principles.

July 24, 2025
See all posts