Orson Scott Card argues for Walking Neighborhoods:
I’m not urging that the government mandate any more absurd mileage requirements for cars, or ration gasoline, or any other absurd proposals. Hybrids are great, for the things they’re great for. But even hybrids still burn gas, and if we could drive less, then hybrids would save even more gasoline.In fact, all that I want government to do, locally and at higher levels, is to stop with the regulations that force us to use cars for everything, and replace them with regulations that permit us to walk or bike.
Right now, in most locations zoning laws force developers to create neighborhoods with houses of about the same size and cost, on roughly the same size lot, while forbidding any retail within walking distance.
Actually, he goes on to argue for much more than that — especially in two other articles, Oil — Past the Peak and Life Without Cars — but I can agree with this fairly narrow argument that walkable neighborhoods should not be illegal.