Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl has been an ongoing issue around the world for decades. In recent times, it has become worse in densely populated metropolitan areas. This term is defined as, “The tendency to build newer suburbs at lower density, to segregate land use more completely, and to be more dependent on automobiles than cities or older suburbs...” (Bluestone, 2008, p. 462). Urban sprawl, as a concept, stood out the most to me because I had never realized that there was terminology for the mess that is known as the greater Denver metropolitan area. I have been driving through Colorado ever since I was a young child in order to get home to the beautiful state of South Dakota. The metro area of Denver is basically the whole state, due to its unique pattern of urban sprawl, developments that are built up spiral out of control and spread out rapidly. Denver, specifically, was hit hard by urban sprawl and is still facing this issue today. Suburbs are popping up rapidly and are filling with as many houses as possible. I have watched the suburban developments surrounding the metro area grow out of control at a rate larger than life. The greater Denver area has grown quickly, making traffic horrible because most individuals rely on vehicles to commute from home to work and from work to home, and roads that were not built to accommodate large amounts of constant traffic. Unfortunately, Denver, or Colorado as a whole, has not put much thought into public transportation systems that work well. My aunt lives in Littleton, a suburb of Denver, and she talks about how poor the transit system is and how it is easier to take her own car.

Urban sprawl creates the poster child of a love-hate relationship within major cities because most people love the freedom that is found within these cities, but prefer the privacy and openness of a more rural town. Heavy traffic, high taxes, and expensive costs of living are a downside to urban living, but suburbs are supposed to fix this problem. Colorado has fallen short when it comes to successful zone planning and is facing the consequences for it. Urban sprawl is a large issue across the state, specifically the Denver area, and there is no sign of it slowing down with an influx of people. New York City, on the other hand, has taken urban sprawl and created something great. That metropolitan area is one of the most dense in the whole United States, and of course, has its own problems. The large influx of tourists on top of the already huge population creates heavy traffic. However, I have experienced New York City’s very successful public transportation system. This includes an underground railroad, or subway, and busses. This can ulimately lead to more and more of the population relying on automobile transportation, because many may feel afraid of using the train. Urban sprawl is quite different in New York City than it is in Denver because of the way the land is as well. Denver is surrounded by land in all directions, giving it the capability to grow out in every way it can. However, New York City is located on a little island, not allowing it to move much in any direction, except up. Planners then made New York unique, filling it with cloud-high skyscrapers. This creates a beautiful scenery for someone who loves buildings, and that someone is me, something that Denver does not have because of its spatial ability.

Cities all over the world are facing the issue of urban sprawl. With the ongoing trend of urbanization, there is no sign of urban sprawl slowing down anytime soon. More and more people are moving from rural areas into metropolitan areas, making urban sprawl an important aspect of most people’s lives. Many people may not see this concept as something relevant to their lives because they are already living in suburbs. Urban sprawl made transportation via automobile one of the most important aspects of everyday life. It has made life easier for many, including myself, focusing on more privacy and efficient use of land. The automobile has truly bloomed since the beginning of urban sprawl as a result of commuting. Without urban sprawl, many people would not feel comfortable in their homes for many reasons. Although some may see this practice as something bad for society, it has many benefits. Urban sprawl has allowed many individuals to live comfortably while commuting to their places of employments.

Works Cited

Bluestone, B., et al. (2008) The Urban Experience: Economics, Society, and Public Policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.