A pedestrian friendly environment is one in which all travel needed for full participation in society - including work, shopping, social and natural opportunities - can be achieved by walking (or using a personal mobility aid such as a wheelchair), biking and public transit. This can be accomplished by planning for a variety of buildings and activities to generate cultural diversity (of age, race, and economic status) within neighborhoods and by connecting these centers with effective public transportation. In addition to decreasing dependence on the automobile, this also promotes neighborly interaction and a scale of commerce in which local business can thrive

One reason for this is that a local business is better placed to adapt to the specific needs of the community it serves than a corporation in which policy may be made thousands of miles away. Another is that the smaller scale at which pedestrian oriented development occurs makes for less of a start-up cost, thus enabling entrepreneurs who might otherwise have difficulty securing enough capital.

People who live in the same area share a high degree of common interests. Supporting local business is good for the neighborhood because it can raise property values by providing access to goods and services. Also, a local business owner is more likely to contribute to the community, not just due to good business sense, but because it is home.

Money one spends on local business is more likely to come back to the spender as the local business person buys what they need in town and the money re-circulates. One dollar which gets passed amongst five hands within a given area generates as much wealth and distributes it more equitably than five dollars which are spent in such a way that they immediately leave the community headed toward some distant corporate office.

So how can we can we create a pedestrian friendly environment? To begin with don't build new roads. With respect to preserving accessible nature and facilitating a compact, diverse, pedestrian friendly city, not building more roads does for free what takes zoning regulations to accomplish after a road is built. As recent Virginia legislation allows, put the money into public transit instead.

We can encourage walking and cycling with bike paths and lanes, sidewalks and easements, and also by the careful use of zoning and tax incentives to create lively, diverse neighborhoods with appropriate amenities like food stores, gathering and recreation spaces, transit stops, and daycare, close to where people live.

Public investment and legislation shape the stage on which social organization occurs. We have a choice to empower corporations or people with the kind of development we pursue.

The Community Economics column has been written by Tradelocal, a group of citizens working to build local economy, promote local culture, and protect the environment. Tradelocal offers a local business database at www.tradelocal.org and local business hotline (804)760-8628. We can also be reached at 912 Woodfolk Drive, C'ville, 22902.