Urban Sprawl: The United States Article Critique

Sprawl locations are often unsightly and starkly modern in a manner that offends some Europeans: "Traditional cities, like many small and mid-sized cities in modern-day Europe, were typically oriented in a compact and efficient way. Preferences of many people, especially in the United States, have led suburban development…in an outward instead of upward manner…Subdivisions are often cited as primary examples of a less efficient use of space that characterizes sprawl. These layouts often only have a few places to enter and exit, causing main roads to have more traffic at these points" (Hill 2010). Creating long commute times and encouraging people to remain within their homes rather than seek out others during times of leisure has had a profoundly negative social impact upon the U.S., many believe, and they cite the fact that the few cities that are anomalous in their development, such as walker-friendly New York City, tend to have lower rates of obesity and flourishing theater and cultural 'scenes.'

Higher levels of pollution due to car exhaust fumes and living communities where even going to buy milk at the local 7-11 or going to school require the use of a car are not sustainable.While parks and carpooling are potential alternative strategies to circumvent the effects of sprawl in the United States, the European call to arms demands a more profound political, cultural, and architectural commitment to fighting the negative effects of urban sprawl. Americans must change their belief structures of what entails a good and a healthy life: they must try to create communities were walking to school is not dangerous, and be willing to live their lives more 'publically' in terms of their transportation and leisure. Giving up the private, self-enclosed individualistic personal spaces of cars and large homes will be difficult for many Americans, and although America is a younger nation, these values are so entrenched that the war against urban sprawl may be harder to win in the United States.

Works Cited

Hill, Adam. "What is urban sprawl?" Wise Geek. August 11, 2010.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-urban-sprawl.htm.....