are much more sustainable environmentally, much more successful economically and much, much better for us in terms of our health. SIMON: Yeah. What are you looking for in a walkable city? What qualities? SPECK: Well, you know, my book has the 10 steps of walkability. But I think the main point to be made is that in most American cities walking will remain a choice. For many years, I think, into the future driving will remain cheap enough and parking will remain cheap enough. And what we're trying to create is pedestrians by choice. And what that means is that the walk has to truly be useful, it has to be safe, it has to be comfortable and it has to be interesting. SIMON: Do you mean walking to work, walking to a store? SPECK: Yeah. Useful means essentially having the proper balance of use in your communities. Most American cities, the one that I work in that are mid-sized typically, do not have a proper ratio of housing downtown. SIMON: Now, you don't mind talking about the fact that you drive a car, right? SPECK: While I was writing this book... SIMON: Not all the time but, yeah. SPECK: It was really hard because while I was writing this book I acquired a car. And my wife and I had lived without one in D.C. for seven years. SIMON: But you got a car because? SPECK: We had our second child. SIMON: May I ask the ages of your