Why do people like the suburbs?

Question

I hate the suburbs!

I hate how you have to commute by car all the time, or not commute at all. Walking is a pain where everything is so far away, and ditches, barking dogs, tons of weeds, and the heat get to you.

Cars also don't provide me satisfaction, with bills, oil checks, maintenance, and a bazillion other things.

Houses look pretty much the same with little character. Old suburbs die and become gentrified.

Neighbors keep to themselves in their gigantic houses, and don't come out often.

Suburban lifestyle is related to obesity.

Suburbs lead to uncontrolled growth, with ugly strip malls, vacant lots, etc.

Traffic increases with no centralized public transportation.

And a bazillion other reasons.

The ONLY good thing is usually better schools, and cheap prices than the city. But that's it.

So why do Americans love the suburbs? It's so awful.

Answer 1

sorry about the rant. Its a big answer for a big question.
I've lived in houston too.

The reason these suburbs where developed was to get away from the traffic downtown. not to mention back in the past downtown became poor and run down. People with money wanted to get away from all that and have their own white picket fence. So they moved "out"ward.

people who bought a house out in the burbs in the past didn't know what they were getting into. Now, traffic is just as bad or worse than it is near downtown and just outside the 610 area.
(crime is still not as bad)

Same houses?
besides a few hundred custom built homes,
the houses were and are usually built by the same few dozen companies, offering only maybe 4 or 5 different types they would build.

People Don't come out?
People are programed by tv, the news, and crime to stay to themselves. Its just as bad downtown.
In general though, those who appreciate health, tend to get out more than others.

obesity?
American lifestyle relates to obesity.

uncontrolled growth?
Friendswood Development Company are the people to blame though. My Ex's mom worked for them and showed me blue prints for kingwood, the woodlands and spring that where drawn up in the 80's. They've been growing as designed since then. Every single street, even the ones that aren't there, WILL be there and have been / are planned.

Size and transportation?
actually its a really big problem with houston. Its SOOOO spread out it is impossible to get around town (or even your neighborhood and stores nearby). not to mention they don't have a descent bus system. Like what about the people in kingwood. They waited for ever to get the metro buses to come out there.


where else do we have to go?
Downtown is MUCH!!!!! too EXPENSIVE, and not any better. People are more likely to keep to themselves due to homeless, drug, and street huslte crimes. And the traffic is just as bad...... but the buses work.

true. Suburbs USUALLY have supremely better schools. I prefer the suburbs and once you've got a car, they're not too shabby.

I say, they'll always make new ones, moving outward. When they start, buy early and do a custom built home. there won't be traffic until they're finished building the entire burb and once its finished sell high and make a bunch of TAX FREE money after about 10 - 15 years. (IRS allows you to sell and make a profit up to 150,000$ tax free, on your FIRST sale of a house)

Answer 2

Redfern has one small part that is in the news, the rest of the suburb is fine and a popular place to live. That is the same with so many "notorious" suburbs including Cabramatta, Cronulla, Bankstown and Blacktown. For the most part these suburbs are fine but there are one or two small pockets where things are a bit crook. Personally I think the worst place to live would be surrounded by Liberal voting snobs so I'd put Point Piper at the top of the list.

Answer 3

There are other reasons that suburbs are popular.

1. Allow privacy.
2. Lower crime.
3. Whites prefer them bcause they tend to me white.
4. You can have a pool, garden etc.
5. Lower taxation.
6. Better schools

I`m not a great fan of the `burbs, but I don`t blem anyone who wants the advantages listed above.

Answer 4

the only reason i've ever liked it is because of the big houses and that it's quiet