Isolated Neighborhoods

Isolated Neighborhoods:

Sprawl places neighbourhoods further away in new development where public transit and bike lanes do not exist. They become isolated and disconnected from the workplace, grocery stores, libraries, public spaces and schools. Sustainable transportation will not exist or choosing cycling or walking may involve directly intermixing with car traffic. Additionally, many of the designs of the low density neighbourhoods (loops & lollypops) further disconnect households from even closeby amenities and further reinforce car dependency of households.

Financially Costly:

Sprawl is almost always low density that means it is financially hard for the municipality to support bus service to low density far off neighbourhoods both from a ridership or distance perspective. Even when sidewalks and bike lanes are built this results in more kilometers of transportation infrastructure to support per household as compared to supporting growth within the current built-up area.

Less Desirable With More Distance:

Some studies suggest that distances beyond 4-6 kilometers is undesirable to many that may consider cycling for commuting or other trips. Even with specific infrastructure there will be a predictable drop-off in participation in far away neighbourhoods. Although not every trip needs to be completed by sustainable transportation to make a difference, low density sprawl significantly decreases participation in sustainable transportation.