What city design idea places homes and shops near public transport stops to encourage less driving?
The city design idea that places homes and shops near public transport stops to encourage less driving is called Transit-Oriented Development, often abbreviated as TOD. Transit-Oriented Development is an urban planning and design strategy that creates compact, mixed-use, and walkable communities centered around high-quality public transportation stations or stops. In a TOD, "mixed-use" means the area combines various types of land uses, such as residential buildings for homes, commercial spaces for shops and offices, and civic amenities, all within a close proximity. The term "compact" refers to higher-density development, where more homes and businesses are built closer together on less land, typically within a half-mile radius, which is considered a comfortable walking distance from the transit stop. "Walkable" indicates that the area is designed with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and short blocks, making it easy and pleasant for people to travel on foot between their homes, workplaces, shops, and the transit station. "Public transportation" refers to shared passenger transport systems like trains, subways, light rail, or bus rapid transit, which efficiently move large numbers of people. By integrating these elements, TOD provides residents with convenient and attractive alternatives to car travel. People can easily walk to local services and shops for daily needs, or access public transport for longer commutes and errands, significantly reducing their reliance on personal vehicles. This design approach aims to decrease traffic congestion, lower parking demand, and reduce vehicle emissions by fostering a lifestyle where owning and driving a car for most daily activities becomes less necessary.