As a child, Steve Price watched southern California’s open space disappear and get taken over by roads and shopping malls.  Now living in the Bay Area, Steve doesn’t want to see the same thing happen in his new home.

Steve started his graphic design business from his home, but soon needed to expand to a new space.  He relocated his office to the vivacious environment of downtown Berkeley, because of its convenient commute and its fully functioning mixed-use neighborhood. There is a spectrum of amenities all around his office, including copy shops, a drug store, hardware store, bookstores and computer stores.  “Before I had to spend a couple of hours running across town to the computer store, and now I just have to walk next door. By having a range of stores so close, I save so much time and free up my weekends.”  Steve also sees the health benefits in his commute.  He walks to and from BART, or bikes along the Ohlone Greenway.  “After I began to incorporate regular exercise into my daily life, I saw immediate health improvements.”

For Steve, being able to walk and bike to his destinations isn’t just for environmental reasons, but to foster community and learning.  “People need to be living in close proximity so that they can experience each other face to face. We are social beings and need to learn about life via observation.”

He and his wife have owned the same car for 10 years but rarely use it.  “I go places I know I can reach by transit or with my bike.”  He can walk to the Ohlone Greenway, the AC Transit Rapid Bus on San Pablo Avenue, and the El Cerrito Del Norte BART in under eight minutes. This opens up a rich world of Bay Area urban centers.

As people start to support “good urbanism” more, and as “cities develop regulations to address the needs of our times”, Steve also hopes that his neighborhood continues to improve. “I’d like to see more walking destinations, (and) more development around the Del Norte BART station. I want a coffee shop I can walk to in the evenings.”

By having stores, work spaces, parks and homes in attractive neighborhoods and within walking distance, “people will interact with their immediate surroundings. They neglect the landscape if there is no interaction. You have to be able to smell the smells.”  For Steve, BART and other public transportation has brought him new connections to people and friendships.  “In public spaces, we learn to be more empathetic and understand other people.”