TACAW’s free panel discussion, “Less Traffic, More Community,” with Culdesac CEO Ryan Johnson and Lyft Co-founder John Zimmer is ready to show attendees that walkable living is possible in the Roaring Fork Valley.

The event will take place on Monday, Aug. 25, at 400 Robinson Street in Basalt. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the event starting at 7 p.m.

“A majority of every generation would pay a premium to live in a walkable neighborhood,” Johnson said, noting 92% of Gen Zers favor living in a walkable neighborhood. “We’re showing that walkable living is possible.”

He is the creator of a car-free neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona. He said that the Basalt and Aspen areas already have the foundation for walkable living, and he envisions a reality dominated by walking, public transit like buses, electric bikes, and driverless rideshares. 

“Creating spaces where people don’t need to have a car, it doesn’t just (make) less traffic for the area, it also makes people’s lives better,” he said.

The hosted conversation will explore how to increase housing in the valley without packing the roads that already see heavy traffic and daily congestion. 

“What we’re trying to do is to instigate an ongoing conversation about how this valley designs itself and solves its problems in a positive, forward-looking way,” said Michael Lipkin of Lipkin Warner Design & Planning, who is underwriting the event. “What’s the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. What’s the next best time? Right now. I think that’s where we are.”

For Johnson and Lipkin, it’s not about asking people to sacrifice their vehicles — rather, it’s asking communities to make insightful and valuable trade-offs that ultimately create a better environment all around.

“There are three things we think about,” Johnson said. “We design for a culture of belonging. Transportation freedom. Thriving local retail. For me personally, part of the reason that I got into this was that I cared a lot about social impact … Helping more people live in (walkable) places is the best thing we can do.”

For more information about the free panel discussion and to RSVP, visit tacaw.org/calendar/less-traffic-more-community.   

“We need more voices in this conversation,” Lipkin said. “How do we start to solve this stuff?”