URBAN SPRAWL, ITS EFFECTS, AND SOLUTIONS-Scott Burton
Urban sprawl is all around us—literally. Look around any big city and you’ll likely find miles upon miles of cramped big-box stores and single-family homes. Some commend this type of development, saying that it offers comfortable and affordable living to the masses. Others say that sprawl is simply human preference, and that there is nothing inherently wrong with it. What is undeniable, however, is the plethora of negative effects associated with urban sprawl. What exactly is urban sprawl, though? Urban sprawl is defined as the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. Or as Wikipedia more aptly defines it, a multifaceted concept centered around the expansion of auto-oriented, low-density development. Sprawl occurs when people move away from urban city centers and into surrounding areas. This movement pattern generally results in previously-rural land turning into low-density, automobile-centric communities—otherwise known as the suburbs. This is not a localized occurrence, either. While urban sprawl abroad may not be characterized by an overabundance of strip malls and Walmart stores like it is here in the United States, it is something that has significantly affected developed countries all around the world. For example, in the capital city of Canberra, Australia, it takes a whopping two and a half hours and 70 stops to travel from the southernmost suburbs to the northernmost suburbs by bus. Considering that Canberra has a modest population of under 400,000 people, those are not particularly admirable numbers. While an affordable cost of entry and the promise of increased privacy and living are quite enticing, most potential homebuyers fail to consider the downfalls of owning a suburban home. A falsely idyllic image of suburban living is one of the reasons that low-density suburbs are so commonplace today, and can be an explanation as to why the expansion of urban sprawl shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While single-family homes can offer a more comfortable living environment for their residents, the benefits do not always outweigh the negatives. Here are some of the detrimental effects of urban sprawl: Traffic, this is the obvious one. An abundance of low-density housing puts a tremendous strain on our roads and highways because most people in these communities drive their own personal vehicles to get to work. In most circumstances, this is not avoidable, because of the long commute distance and the complete lack of any sort of public transportation in many suburban cities. Road congestion can severely inhibit one’s ability to get anywhere, which can be catastrophic in emergency situations. Furthermore, road traffic costs billions of dollars per year in wasted fuel and lost productivity. Cost of living, suburban homes may be cheaper to purchase outright, but they are more expensive than their urban counterparts in nearly every other way. Specifically, residents of the suburbs pay much more for transportation and infrastructure. These individuals tend to live much further away from their workplaces than city-dwellers, and thus pay significantly more for fuel and vehicle maintenance. Additionally, the very nature of sprawl results in higher utility costs. Essentials such as water and electricity must be transported over longer distances, effectively raising the cost of such utilities. And when all of our tax dollars are focused on trying to sustain an unsustainable infrastructure, no one benefits. Pollution, suburban homes are almost universally more polluting than urban ones. As a matter of fact, the San Francisco suburb of Atherton has a per-household pollution score more than four times than that of downtown San Francisco. And judging by carbon footprint maps, similar trends can be found throughout the rest of the country. Health, the car-based nature of suburban sprawl has undoubtedly suppressed our healthy habits—namely, walking. While urban areas are generally very pedestrian-friendly and have access to basic amenities within walking distance, the same can’t be said about the suburbs. A recent study has found that the risk of obesity and diabetes was elevated by 33 percent in areas of Toronto with poor walkability. While sprawl has already spread to extreme lengths around the world, fortunately it can be stopped and its effects can be reversed. Doing so, however, will require cooperation from homebuyers, property developers, and government officials alike. Sustainable development. while there are a sizable number of examples of planned communities and sustainable cities that have come into fruition over the past few decades, the continued development of sprawling subdivisions negate the benefits of these communities. This can be partially attributed to the modern-day bias towards urban sprawl; this is especially true of middle and upper class families, who largely prefer this type of living environment. If we are to halt the spread of urban sprawl, however, we must encourage the development of new urban communities along with educating the masses about the benefits of city living. Government intervention. If private solutions to urban sprawl fail to materialize, government intervention may be required. In 1999, Al Gore proposed a plan to offer tax breaks to communities that preserve green space and find ways to relieve traffic congestion. While it may only be a small step in solving the bigger issue, offering such incentives may lead cities to encourage sustainable development over sprawling suburbs. Even though the problem of urban sprawl shows no signs resolving itself anytime in the near future, if we can change the perception of the suburbs, we might be on our way to solving the issue. After all, the people are the main ones who can make a change when it comes to limiting suburban expansion. By spreading the word and refocusing our tax dollars, we can begin to solve even greater issues, such as pollution, health problems, and the crumbling infrastructure. Call me an optimist, but perhaps one day we can live in a world with no noticeable road congestion and minimal air pollution in our neighborhoods. |
Summary:As the human population continues to grow at an unsustainable rate, in order to meet our needs, more and more land must be taken for development. Urban Sprawl, the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas occurs when people move away from concentrated city centers and into the areas that surround it. Individuals in order to live closer to the city and its ease of access find themselves expanding the range of the city by moving on the outskirts of it. Government incentives might be a worthwhile solution to this issue as if the people who live farther from the city are more accommodated with increased access to internet and phone usage, this will offset their need to drive long distances and increase the range of the city limits.
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Commentary:The issue of urban sprawl is a difficult one as most people do not understand the effects that it can have on the environment and the individuals in it. In order to build our economy, we need to give more people access to resources such as internet, phone, and the ability to buy commercial goods in close proximity to ones area. Although these may be positive elements of urban sprawl, it still has its negative effects. Urban sprawl is not in any way sustainable as the city limits continue to grow, there will be less land left for agriculture, and will need to be bulldozed and contribute to soil erosion as well as the displacement of many key wildlife species and their habitats. More low density housing will put a huge strain on roads and highways as the longer commute times will increase the amount of greenhouse gases which are emitted. Solutions such as offering government incentives like tax breaks to areas which preserve their green space. This will get more people willing to face minor inconvenience and help decrease the amount of urban sprawl.
Article: URBAN SPRAWL, ITS EFFECTS, AND SOLUTIONS
Photo Sources:http://www.geographypods.com/january-2013.html
http://pixels.com/featured/an-aerial-view-of-urban-sprawl-joel-sartore.html http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/urban-sprawl-in-germany-poland-and-czech-republic-1990-2000 http://www.constructionshows.com/melbourne-garden-city-part-4-urban-sprawl-issues-2/0210802 |