Tagged : Urban Sprawl

The concept of urban sprawl is based on the outward growth of a city into its outlying areas (suburbs) and subsequent expansion of rural areas. Design of these suburban developments cause increased dependence on automobiles as well as many other issues, such as long commutes for city workers, racial segregation, rising rates of obesity, and higher costs for public transportation. Urban sprawl also has some distinct advantages, such as larger lots for single-family residences and lower prices for land.

There are continual debates as to the benefits and disadvantages of urban sprawl, and the term typically is used in a negative fashion. The perception of urban sprawl is somewhat accurate when one considers that rates of pollution per person is higher in…