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I understand the number one reason why Americans move to the suburbs - schools for their kids and more space to raise them. Some people also say that suburbs are the 'best of both worlds' (incorporate the best features of urban living and advantages of rural living).
I tend to think that they have become the worst of both. Suburbs are getting crowded, congested (traffic ), loud, polluted and some even crime ridden like the cities and at the same time have some of the same car dependence, isolation, deadness, lack of public transportation of rural areas.
What do you think?
A lot of suburbs don't even have sidewalks, all the houses are the same, and and there is no public transportation. There are no small locally owned shops like both the city and rural have, they just have big box stores. And winding curvy roads suck.
A lot of suburbs don't even have sidewalks, all the houses are the same, and and there is no public transportation. There are no small locally owned shops like both the city and rural have, they just have big box stores. And winding curvy roads suck.
Virtually all the suburbs in the Denver area have sidewalks. There is a wide variety of housing types and prices. They look no more alike than the houses built in the city at the same time. Most of these little strip malls in the burbs have a grocery store, soemtimes a drug store, and lots of little shops, some of which are locally owned. In metro Denver, virtually every community in the RTD (Regional Transit District) has public transportationn.
Virtually all the suburbs in the Denver area have sidewalks. There is a wide variety of housing types and prices. They look no more alike than the houses built in the city at the same time. Most of these little strip malls in the burbs have a grocery store, soemtimes a drug store, and lots of little shops, some of which are locally owned. In metro Denver, virtually every community in the RTD (Regional Transit District) has public transportationn.
Denver seems to be ahead of the trend.
Do people in suburban Denver use public transit? It seems like everybody I know from small towns, the suburbs, or rural areas hate using public transportation. I really think its a cultural thing as I never saw myself living without a car before moving to the city. In the suburbs, and rural areas, you spend so much time driving your car becomes an extension of yourself.
I moved around a lot (but in the same city) when growing up, so I experienced many suburban neighborhoods in the same general area. I remember 3 well. And, for me, these areas define what I consider the typical suburban neighborhood.
None had sidewalks. They were comprised of either ranch or split level style houses built in the 50's-60's. In one neighborhood, I could walk to my elementary school, the 7-11, or a gas station. In the second, I could walk to a nice, locally owned diner/restaurant, a video rental place, and to a park. (if I cut through the woods) In the third neighborhood, there was absolutely NOTHING within walking distance.
Do people in suburban Denver use public transit? It seems like everybody I know from small towns, the suburbs, or rural areas hate using public transportation. I really think its a cultural thing as I never saw myself living without a car before moving to the city. In the suburbs, and rural areas, you spend so much time driving your car becomes an extension of yourself.
Yes, many people in suburban Denver use public transit, especially to go to work/school. There are numerous Park and Rides around at commuter bus stops, especially on routes to Denver. The Skyride (airport bus) is very popular. IN the larger suburban cities, there is some intra-city transit. My daughter took the RTD home from school in middle school. Many middle schoolers take RTD to school. There is also a bus from Boulder to the Eldora ski area, which is used by a lot of kids.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JR_C
I moved around a lot (but in the same city) when growing up, so I experienced many suburban neighborhoods in the same general area. I remember 3 well. And, for me, these areas define what I consider the typical suburban neighborhood.
None had sidewalks. They were comprised of either ranch or split level style houses built in the 50's-60's. In one neighborhood, I could walk to my elementary school, the 7-11, or a gas station. In the second, I could walk to a nice, locally owned diner/restaurant, a video rental place, and to a park. (if I cut through the woods) In the third neighborhood, there was absolutely NOTHING within walking distance.
Well, as previously stated, that is not the norm for all suburbs. From about Chicago west, it seems that most all 'burbs have sidewalks. Ironically, I grew up in an old "streetcar suburb" outside of Pittsburgh, and it did not have sidewalks or any businesses (though there were a few nearby that you could walk to, and there was a sidewalk along the main drag). The houses in my burb were built in the early 1900s, for the most part.
I agree. For my tastes, the best location of all is a town toward the outer fringe of a metro area, close enough to the city for that best-of-both worlds quality people seek in the 'burbs, but far enough out to have its own independent character and real sense of local community.
I agree... that's the best of both worlds. Homes and neighborhoods with character since they weren't all built by one developer, and an actual sense of community with some mom and pops thrown in here and there. It's too bad that the growth in many metros has reached a point where that type of situation is well beyond reasonable commuting distance.
Hmm, well, I voted that suburbs are bad, but it really depends on how you define them. Neighborhoods are fine. When I was a kid I spent a lot of time at my grandparents house, which was in a neighborhood, but they had 5 acres, dozens of majestic oak trees, a miniature baseball diamond, a bad-mitten court, a swimming pool, a pool house with pool table, horseshoe poles, a horse paddock, a seasonal creek, a basketball court, 2 outdoor picnic areas, several barns, a pond, etc. To me, this seemed like a fine place to live (and they were by no means wealthy, they just worked very hard on their yard, as it was the focal point for the entire family). Lots of privacy, but still a close nit community where it was not uncommon to see the neighbors walking their dogs/kids down the street. Crime was unheard of.
Now, I absolutely can't stand planned housing tracts with CC&Rs, homeowners associations, and roofs so close together you could walk a mile without touching the ground. Soulless burbs with back yards just big enough for a swimming pool and front yards just large enough to park a ski boat. Ugh.
Virtually all the suburbs in the Denver area have sidewalks. There is a wide variety of housing types and prices. They look no more alike than the houses built in the city at the same time. Most of these little strip malls in the burbs have a grocery store, soemtimes a drug store, and lots of little shops, some of which are locally owned. In metro Denver, virtually every community in the RTD (Regional Transit District) has public transportationn.
I'm not talking about first ring suburbs, but rather urban sprawl that is still gobbaling up the country side more every day.
Now, I absolutely can't stand planned housing tracts with CC&Rs, homeowners associations, and roofs so close together you could walk a mile without touching the ground. Soulless burbs with back yards just big enough for a swimming pool and front yards just large enough to park a ski boat. Ugh.
Interesting that you don't like that in the burbs. That is a pretty good description of the city, any city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mistacoolio20
I'm not talking about first ring suburbs, but rather urban sprawl that is still gobbaling up the country side more every day.
So am I. The RTD extends about 60 miles north to south and about 40 mi. east to west, including commuter buses to the mtn burbs, and if you had read my post, to a ski area. Light rail extends to the far southern suburbs, will soon be in the north 'burbs as well. And virtually ALL of them, I repeat, have sidewalks.
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), loud, polluted and some even crime ridden like the cities and at the same time have some of the same car dependence, isolation, deadness, lack of public transportation of rural areas. 
