How Are Urban Sprawl and Public Health Related?
Let’s see how urban sprawl might lead to health issues. There are four arguments that have merit: 1. Urban sprawl leads to less exercise. Two intertwined factors here are: (1) sprawl tends to lead to more driving instead of walking simply because distances to important destinations are greater, and (2) sprawling developments often are designed with cul-de-sacs and a curvilinear street pattern that makes a potential short walk into a long walk. In large metro areas, urban sprawl may be so severe that biking to work isn’t a feasible option, even if the frequent problems of no safe bicycle facilities and no shower at work have been overcome to some extent. Another factor about exercise is that with longer commutes to the workplace, there’s simply less time for exercise. And certainly weekend recreational trips might well include a long walk or cycling trip, but that’s impractical if the only way to access the new Super Duper Museum is by highway. So while we all can find ways around our b
