New urbanism in America and China

Do you remember the town in the movie The Truman Show? In reality, it's the small, planned town of Seaside, Florida. It's representative of a movement among architects and city planners called "new urbanism".

Until the 1950s, America's small towns and cities were known for their convenience and comfort. People could walk to school, or stores, or work. Downtown shopping areas were vibrant with customers. Most people did not own a car, but the walkability of the cities combined with the easy availability of trains and buses meant that most people did not need to go to the trouble and expense of depending on a car. In the bigger cities like Los Angeles or Washington, extensive trolley systems allowed people to get around.

I looked at a 1915 railroad schedule for my hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, which at that time was a very small town of less than 20,000 people. Eighty-seven passenger trains each day stopped at the Clarksville station. After World War II, we destroyed that great railroad system.