Part 2, Chapter 9, The Need for Small Blocks Summary and Analysis

The second factor required for successful city areas are small blocks with a lot of places where people can turn. If not, the street is isolated. This is the case with long blocks. Long blocks have no breaks in them. People are stranded when they uses areas with long blocks. Short blocks give people more choices, allow for more mingling, and result in more diversity. Long blocks are a barrier to use mixtures and diversity. People try to avoid areas that have long blocks. Long blocks result in fewer people with different uses and this means that people with different uses don't mingle in the area as they do in areas with short blocks.

Jacobs's point that blocks must be short is discussed in greater detail. She feels that...