Walkability: It's not about the buildings, or even the streets. It's about the experience.
A recent Surgeon General's call to action promotes walkability and walkable communities, and as part of that highlights the role that design and land use play in creating walkable communities. PlaceShaker's discussion of the call provides a good summary of some of the key elements of walkable neighborhoods.
“The Surgeon General made recommendations strongly encouraging cities to enable walking to work, school and retail close to home. The report also acknowledged that land use regulations are critical to making this a reality. The 21st century zoning ordinances such as form-based codes provide mixtures of compatible uses within a single zoning district, and will be a critical tool to implementing the Surgeon General’s Call to Action.”