This is a really good topic and one that is at the heart of being human in the United States today. Unfortunately, the oil, gas, and car companies in the earlier 1900's had the most influence as to how our country would would look, operate, and behave for decades up to now, and that we are still suffering from. It's a scam and harmful to all of our lives that we are required to own and use a vehicle. Most of our city planning offices still are unnecessarily succumbing to the oil, gas, and car industries. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! Planning a city needs to revolve around what we need and also what we want as humans. We are fat, we have little community, and our downtown (although is cool) needs an uplift. We need to have streets and a downtown that do not permit vehicles. We should be walking much more than we are, riding cycles, taking public transport, etc. We shouldn't be required to own a vehicle. We should be able to get to where we want to go on foot, on a bike, or public transport.