Part 4, Chapter 18, Erosion of Cities of Attrition of Automobiles Summary and Analysis

Much of the cities problems are due to the automobile and the things that are done to accommodate them. Cities need multiplicity of choice and trade and commerce. This means that people have to have a way to travel around the city. Automobiles didn't ruin cities. They had the same complaints about horses in London. Both pedestrians and automobiles have to exist within cities, which are congested with cars. Cities have looked at different plans that try to minimize the congestion between truck, cars, and people. Some have tried to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic. However, this isn't a workable solution.

Jacobs explains how congestion instigates first street widening, then route changes, and then triggers complete roadway changes with new bridges and greater areas of...