“A long series of studies across several countries, beginning in San Francisco in 1969, shows unequivocally that communities become weaker as the volume of traffic on their streets increases.”
Other papers show that people’s use of shared spaces is strongly influenced by trees: the more there are, the more time people spend there and the larger the groups in which they gather. A further study shows that, partly as a result, vegetation in common spaces strengthens social ties. In greener places, people know more of their neighbours, are more likely to help each other and have stronger feelings of belonging. Social isolation is strongly associated with an absence of green spaces.
One fascinating paper shows that crime rates are also strongly affected by vegetation. In housing projects in Chicago with equal levels of poverty, taking account of factors such as size of buildings and vacancy rates, there’s a clear association between the absence of greenery and both property crime and violent crime.
Another set of studies demonstrates a relationship between urban planning and body mass index. Where settlements are dense – and therefore able to support public transport – and close to shops, workplaces and recreation places, people are more likely to walk and cycle and less likely to be fat. One paper shows that women living in mixed places, where houses and amenities are close together, have a risk of coronary heart disease 20% lower than women living in areas which contain only houses. Suburban sprawl is partly to blame for obesity”
Article writtten by George Monbiot. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/09/housebuilding-developers-planners-obesity-crime
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