Speaking for myself, I enjoy walking. I don't own a car and live in a walkable city in the northeast US. One where I can go to a number of cafes, restaurants, grocers, shops, just about anything you can imagine. It's not a large city by any means, but I live downtown so that really is advantageous for walking. If I need to get into the big city then I walk down to the local commuter station and pick up the train. It's 30 mins on the train and then I'm in the center of the city. Our largest city nearby has a decent public transportation system, so you can go from one neighborhood to another in a matter of minutes. Which isn't always the case if you were driving in the city. So, while the article points out some very interesting notes, I think what matters most is ease and if you can access your necessities easily. For me, walking works.