Installing some stop lights seems much cheaper than redesigning our cities.
I don’t think “walkable” cities is an answer to anything. Walking is hard for children and the elderly. Public transit is SUPER slow. If cars fit on the road, then people will use cars. They are just a superior traveling experience in almost every way.
Public transport is often the fastest way to get around in some cities for some locations. I live in Prague and it's generally faster to take the metro or tram than drive. Obviously not in all cases, but the majority.
Walkable city doesn't mean you can't have a car, it means there are other (often faster) transport options and amenities within easy travel distance without a car. Children and elderly can still be transported by car.
This was my experience as well while I was stationed in Germany. If you wanted to go downtown, public transport was the clear choice. It was faster, and I didn't have to spend time parking my car.
We have a lack of imagination when it comes to cars. (That, and market-driven commercial interests.) "Cars, but electric!" to deal with climate change. "Cars, but autonomous!" to deal with...what? It's not clear what problem self-driving cars are meant to solve that mass transit couldn't do much better. And this idea of a white light is nuts, for the reasons others have given in comments. It just shows how far off the rails we're willing to go (pardon the pun) in attempting to stick with car-based solutions.
I don’t think “walkable” cities is an answer to anything. Walking is hard for children and the elderly. Public transit is SUPER slow. If cars fit on the road, then people will use cars. They are just a superior traveling experience in almost every way.