Jane Jacobs

The Death and Life of Great American Cities

1. IDEA 1

   Planners were destroying cities

   Jacobs, a writer and activist in New York, argues that the city planning ideas of her time were destroying the life of cities. Large housing projects and highways, she says, broke apart lively neighbourhoods.

2. IDEA 2

   Busy streets are safer

   Jacobs argues that streets are safest when many people are around, with shops and homes facing them. She calls this natural watching eyes on the street. In her view, such watching works better than police alone.

3. IDEA 3

   Streets have a daily rhythm

   Jacobs describes the sidewalk ballet, the daily pattern of people coming and going on a busy street. She finds beauty in this ordinary activity. She argues that this lively pattern is what keeps a street safe and friendly.

All 8 ideas from The Death and Life of Great American Cities →