The more interconnected the area, the fewer the miles that are driven

From the King County (Seattle) Land Use, Transportation, Air Quality and Health Study:


- Residents of the most "walkable" areas of King County were more physically active, and less overweight, than those in areas with fewer pedestrian-friendly amenities;
- Better connected streets, sidewalks and pathways can increase transportation efficiency and reduce automobile dependency as well as improve air quality and the health of residents;
- Residents walk more when a variety of retail services are available nearby;
- Transit and walking go together, people choose to walk more when transit choices are near;
- The more interconnected the area, the fewer the miles that are driven.
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Steve Belmont's book, Cities in Full, has great diagrams showing the transportation efficiencies of the center city versus polycentric development (edge cities) and other forms.