How Does Suburban Sprawl Affect the Lives of Commuters?The image of suburban living has become synonymous with the idea of a safe, relaxing and family oriented area to live and grow as a family. Once the idea of suburban living is scrutinized, the realization sets in that people of suburbia are stranded on an island full of homes without the ability to easily commute anywhere without a vehicle. Instead of spending time with friends and family at home, sporting events, out to dinner or various other leisurely activities within the home or community, American’s now spend an abundance of time in their car commuting to and from work, the store, and chauffeuring those unable to drive to their destination. “Suburban sprawl has created a nation that has been supersized beyond walking distance” (Time, 1).
Suburban sprawl has created a society that is completely dependent on vehicles. Businessmen and businesswomen are spending more and more time on their daily commute to and from work, children are stuck sitting in front of the television since they don’t have independent access to their friends, the park, etc. and shoppers are unable to quickly run to the store without first jumping in their car to fight traffic and traffic lights the entire way there and back. If an average commute time to work is an hour, that commuter will spend a minimum of 500 hours per year just driving to and from work. That adds up to twelve work weeks’ worth of driving (Suburban Nation)! While driving to and from work is a constant, time consuming battle, “eighty percent of all suburban automobile trips have nothing to do with work at all, but are short drives to places that used to be accessible on foot, such as shops, schools, parks, and friends’ houses” (Suburban Nation, 126). Not only does suburban sprawl and this complete dependence on cars effect our time, it also effects our pocketbook. “The typical American family spends four times as much on transportation as its European counterpart even though gasoline costs four times as much in Europe” (Suburban Nation, 126). The integration and use of mixed-use environments could drastically improve the lives and pocketbooks of commuters in suburbia.
By altering zoning regulations, local ordinances and building codes that currently discourage mixed-use environments and denser developments (Time), the incorporation of a small shopping center, business district and park near neighborhoods would drastically reduce the amount of time spent in traffic and the dependence on vehicles. Commuters would be able to work closer to home and spend less time in traffic, shoppers would be able to walk to the store to quickly pick up an item or two and those who are unable to drive would have the independence to access places on foot. All in all, urban amenities in suburbia would benefit everyone who lived there.
Kim-
ReplyDeleteLiving in Omaha I never felt that I 'waste' that much time driving until I read these articles. Wowzers!! I was talking to a friend in Virginia and her commute is 2 hours each way!
This really made me stop and think and one thing I wonder about is: the cost of urban living. For example, my friend that lives in Virginia cannot afford to move any closer to her job because of the cost of living and the inflated home prices. She could rent an apartment but she would be giving up her 1500 sq ft row house for a 700 sq ft 1 bedroom studio for the same price! Oh and there would be street parking and apartment fees. I shouldn't complain living in Omaha and be thankful that we are not that 'large' of a city but even so it is amazing how much driving we have to do to get to places. This made me reflect on my childhood. My grandma lived in South Omaha and we could walk two houses down to the mom and pop grocery store, a gas station was a block away and there were two grade schools near by that allowed for plenty of activity on the playground and baseball fields.
Do you think that for some it is a matter of skewed opinion of 'city living'? Do you think it is a cost issue? Is it that people don't realize how much they are spending in a car? Is it a lifestyle thing? They want a detached property versus what the city offers?
I think the 'space per apartment vs proximity to downtown' ratio is a driving factor of sprawl. Most people want to have more space to store more stuff while living in a quite and peaceful environment. Kim noted that when you live in multi family dwellings you may not always be blessed with good neighbors. I feel that most people prefer their private space and in exchange will tolerate the extended drive everyday. In short, i feel that this trend is a combination of costs [more space for fewer dollars + gas or smaller space for more money + no car] and lifestyle [SPACE].
DeleteI live in Omaha as well, and while I don't spend two hours driving to work each way (I would go crazy!!), I feel like I do waste a lot of time (not to mention gas) on my commutes to and from work. I am not a morning person, but I have started showing up at work at 6:30am just so I don't have to deal with rush hour traffic to downtown Omaha (it's also nice that I can leave early too!). I can't and don't want to imagine how crazy rush hour traffic is in bigger/busier cities! Personally, I think it's a mixture of a skewed view of city living and the preference of a detached property. I'm not going to lie, it's annoying living in an apartment with a family of three small children living right above you, constantly jumping up and down, crying, etc. I'd like to think that nicer apartments and condos are able to control the transfer of sound better (wishful thinking?), but I'm not sure. As for a skewed view on city living, I think a lot of individuals and families view the city as unsafe with limited things to do and places to go for children . Like the readings mentioned, families, especially those who can't drive, basically become a prisoner in their own homes because they can't independently go anywhere or do anything without a ride. In the city, excitement and things to do, places to go are everywhere! You just have to look for it. I think it's important to show the public that city living has SO MUCH MORE to offer families than suburbia does.
ReplyDeletehave either of you two visited a city with fantastic public transportation? europe has a certain density that is not always urban [as the city centers are], but series of neighborhoods connected through public transportations means to get to the city center and from one neighborhood to the next. within these neighborhoods are walkable grocery stores, retail, green space, schools, etc. at the very least, as mentioned in the "Suburban Nation", prior to full on sprawl one would take the train, at least then you could read, etc while commuting.
ReplyDeletei have to admit after reading the article i was convinced that alex and i had to get rid of a car and find a way...i can think of all but one neighborhood in lincoln [including downtown] where you could live in a place where you could walk to a grocery store without having to cross a major roadway way and walk to an elementary school.
Lindsey,
DeleteAfter I finished my undergrad degree, I seriously considered moving to a city solely based on their public transportation system. It's no secret that I seriously dislike driving (and parking lots!) and wish Omaha had a better public transportation system. Like the readings mentioned, some people claim it relaxing to drive, but to me, it's a stressor. I do think that little neighborhoods with walkable grocery stores, retail, etc. that form around public transportation stops (or vice versa) is a smart answer to sprawl. That makes it easy and convenient to enjoy and shop close to home as well as traveling further distances, into the city, other neighborhoods to visit friends or family, etc.
One thing that my husband and I did was only have one car for our family for about 3 years. It was interesting to see how we would plan out our trips for the week and put a value on our time.
ReplyDeleteI personally would love to be in a neighborhood where I knew my neighbors and didn't have to drive to get to places. I am amazed at my severe lack of patience for my 15 minute, easy, commute here in town.
I have not been to a city with a well thought out put together public transportation system. I think it would be great to see one and be a part of one for a week and reflect on the pros and cons.
My followup to the solution would be how does a neighborhood maintain this idea? I think of the number of strip malls and even former grocery stores that are now deserted because of sprawl out west. Do you think that neighborhood would be enough to maintain it? I think this works for small towns very well. I have been to Creighton Nebraska and I remember thinking how crazy it was to grocery shop--the store was so small and you didn't pay for anything. They wrote down your groceries and billed your house! Very interesting but it was welcoming that everyone knew everyone (maybe a little too much) and that the hospitality was there.
I don't know that everybody has a car due to public transportation isn't common in the US or public transportation is an inadequate in the US due to the fact that everybody has a car. What is the point about that? I think that is second one. low price gasoline should be the reason of driving in the USA. Also, in America,prices of cars are cheaper than in Europe. In the US, a family usually has at least two cars, while in Europe many families don't have a car. I moved to America for studying but I was shocked because of necessity car. I don't have a car and am walking to school everyday. But, I need it because of shopping even if I need to buy a bread or milk. There is no grocery store, corner shop and clothing shop around of my living space. Also, I am a graduate student and sometimes I need to go to school for studying in the evening. But there is a bus from school to my apartment until 6.30 p.m. it is really weird for me. I believe the system push us to buy a car and driving in the USA. At this point, the missions fall to governments, architects, urbanists and community. Government can increase gasoline price and get high tax for car sales as deterrent force and, make public transportation system widespread. In addition, Architects and urbanists can plan and design cities and suburban as purposing to push community to walking. Last but not least, people should think their health and, walk and spend time in recreational areas as becoming integrated community.
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