Walkable City champions the idea that creating pedestrian-friendly environments is crucial for building vibrant, healthy, and economically successful cities. Speck's core argument, known as the "general theory of walkability," states that a city will be more walkable if walking is useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting.

In the ongoing conversation about how to build better cities, two key concepts—Pedestrian-Oriented Design (POD) and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)—are gaining significant traction.