Why do you not see people outside in the affluent suburbs?

Question

Just noticed something...

Going past this town in the UK (proper working class area), I noticed that people go out more... Pensioners walking dogs, kids playing kerbie in the street, people talking to friends, teenagers plucking up the courage to talk to the opposite sex etc. You actually see people on the streets.

Contrast this with when the bus travelled through the affluent treelined suburbs. Not a soul in sight. Not even someone walking on the pavements.

Why?

Surely it can't be the fear of crime - this would actually be lower in the suburbs

(UK question - don't know if it's the US is the same).

Answer 1

they are all working or out spending there money,,

Answer 2

Normally there is less street business in the suburbs. There are instead individual houses seperated by space and far away from the retail areas. Other than being outside in a yard or on a porch or veranda, there would be little need to be outside unless you were going somewhere and then you would have to use transportation. In the cities on the other hand, many businesses are within walking distances, and unless you're going all the way across town, walking is the default means of travel. Everyone lives closer to each other and so outdoor socializing is almost mandatory. Everyone knows everyone else in the immediate viscinity and most of them do not have cars so theyre almost always at LEAST walking around past each others houses on the way to or from their own house. It's traffic.

Answer 3

I'd imagine they travel everywhere by car- as they consider walking terribly plebian.

They tend to cocoon themselves in their bourgoisie trappings of affluence don't they?
There's also no combination areas of strip shopping and cafes/eateries etc that you find in the inner city. But where I live in Bath- (it's not super affluent- but nice)- mainly the elderly crowd are out and about walking- I have no idea whether this is habit, choice or that they don't/can't have a car.
Mind you- my old granddad used to walk 5 miles a day even in his late 80's as he thought it was the height of laziness to take the car to the shops- when you could walk- rain, hail or shine. With the shopper-wheelie trolley thingamee. Tweed of course.

So perhaps also people have become too accustomed to the convenience of their cars and we've slowly become more self-indulgent and cocooned from one another. The new suburbs do nothing at all to promote community- though, interestingly in Australia- planned real estates with central cafes and rec facilities are very popular now- almost the norm.
So perhaps that form of American-style planned real estate has yet to take off here.

Answer 4

I wonder which 'leafy suburb' you mean and if it is in the South of England.
I am from Liverpool and have lived in pleasant parts of the South East and East Yorkshire and Cheshire and now Shropshire.
Of those, the only area in which your observation is accurate is the south East. There most people work in London and commute for up to four hours a day. When they get home they are shattered, believe me, and not at all interested in going anywhere.
In the other areas, your remark is simply not true in my experience. People do talk and walk and the kids do play out. The teenagers have a seat or bus-stop around which to meet.
And, no I'm not posh or rich, but I worked hard to progress from night school to senior management in a manufacturing industry.

Answer 5

Good question I give you a star for that babe. I have noticed this myself and it is strange
Some reasons might be in affluent suburbs parents don't allow their children to go out just to wander the streets.
Early morning and late evening you do see the dof walkers
Rest of the time, as you say, no one around.

Answer 6

It is true the more expensive the area the less people you see. Of course suburbs do have less homes per square mile so less people.
Or could be the houses are bigger and have bigger gardens so have to spend more time doing all the household chores. But much more likely they are busy driving little ones to & from school, dance, tennis, swimming classes and horse riding lessons. Then got to get ready to go out socialising.
Or there again got such a big mortgage have to work really long hours and when get home lots of house work to do.

Answer 7

US scene...in affluent neighborhoods, the adults are either too busy in their corporate worlds and/or having a spa treatment somewhere...kids? what kids? as I said, they're busy with something else!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

in case they get burgled by those working class people that are out and about looking for some where to rob

Answer 9

They are all each other's houses, having swinging parties!! The suburban lot are into weird sexual practices! How filthy !

Answer 10

some r dining out before going to the theatre, some r away on luxury cruises,the others r hiding from the tax man.

Answer 11

The reason street crime is lower is that NO One goes out