The Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths: How Smart Growth Will Harm American Cities

This book should be in the hands of every citizen who has been upset by development and planning issues in their Cities & Towns. It is an education and an invaluable resource that levels the playing field somewhat when you have to deal with Planning staffs that don't seem to be listening and zoning decisions that aren't making any sense. It's eye-opening and a long overdue revelation for the average citizen. The two negative reviewers of this book sound like they are more than likely city planners themselves and, of course, would not like this book. Interesting that they resort to fear-mongering and conspiracy theories to discredit it. I have read this book and highly recommend it. It was written for all of us who don't have a degree in city planning.

San Jose is the number two city to institute Smart Growth Planning after Portland. Our housing prices are up 10 times in the last 25 years because of the Urban Growth Boundary. We spend 80% of transportaion funds on transit which provides 1.1% of passenger miles and roads are planned to come to a stop. Our transportation plan reports that 90,000 auto trips will not be possible to be made because of road congestion. Our industrial and office buildings are 20% vacant. We are #2 behind Portland in Urban Joblesness. In regard to running out of Oil. As a student at SJSU 50 years ago we were taught that the world had a 10 year supply of oil. Now it is reported that is some where between 50 and 100 years. I use the book almost every week for references.