>>1957270http://web.mit.edu/ebj/www/doc/JAPAv61n1.pdfbasically T-intersections were found to be less dangerous, and since American culture was being thoroughly infected by eastern faith principles vectored through theosophy and other intelligence projects at the beginning of the 20th century, ease and convenience was elevated to the highest virtue for Americans, since this meant for the governors that the citizenry would remain on the path of least resistance and thus, never embark on the path of greatest prosperity, or more decidedly, simply ignore prosperity. So the buddhist-zen-type practices were installed across America, leading to the sloth population of drive-thru addicts we have today.
Designing subdivisions in this manner was encouraged, or rather, demanded, by the FHA (Federal Housing Authority) who had power because of mortgages and lending, and thus, developers followed their guidelines in this curvilinear regard starting in the 30s, but accelerating in the mid 60s with each new FHA report.
James Howard Kunstler has good information on the topic, he has a website and a few books, and talks about the absurdity of living a quarter mile from a shop, but having to drive over a mile because of the circuitous nature of these development schemes. I believe now, it is discouraged in favor of more live-work-type developments, and whatever.
