the benefits This section assumes that you're clear on how we have proposed the suburbs will be shaped. (if not, click on section Shaping Suburbia here) Wait a minute, all this you are talking about is change and change can be hard – why do it? There are many benefits to both the:
for making the changes proposed by Shaping Suburbia, and yes, the benefits to the city of course benefit us all too. a) Individual benefits Undertaking the changes proposed by Shaping Suburbia:
Undertaking the changes proposed by Shaping Suburbia
more on financial benefits A report from the Centre for International Economics (CIE), found that placing new homes in existing areas would save $26,000 per dwelling in transport, social and utility infrastructure and environmental costs compared with building in greenfield areas. Beyond such additional costs for sparsely populated places, on the positive side of the ledger, there are some value benefits in getting the density right. We already know that getting the density right leads to more walkable places. Initial American findings indicate that people will pay more for houses in more walkable suburbs. Houses with the above average levels of walkability command a premium of about $4,000 to $34,000 over houses with just average levels of walkability in the typical metropolitan areas studied. What type of place would you value for your family?
While this trend may go against the affordability benefit mentioned above, the small sites small house benefit will dominate the walkability price premium. This means the affordability benefit is dominant. social benefits too With the provision of a range of lot sizes including smaller lots, a range of house types and house prices are able to be offered. This almost never the case in traditional suburbia. In fact many local authorities have requirements of minimum land sizes that prevent a range of innovative affordable housing product from entering the market. Removing such restrictions will allow suburbs to provide new options for such people as single parent families and increases affordability and opportunities for key-worker housing. This is a key contributor to a rich and socially diverse society. do you want a garden? The types of suburbs advocated by Shaping Suburbia still allows for free-hold title. i.e. you live in a house with a garden, and you can even grow your own veggies or run a few chooks if you want to. Sure you get bigger gardens in traditional suburbia, but Shaping Suburbia is about finding an intelligent, informed balance between lots of things in your life. getting around Shaping suburbia has focussed on walkability of suburbs as a key indicator for a range of things that make great suburbs, but there are also great benefits to living in very walkable places. Of the following typical options, the "bike/walking" journeys are the least carbon intensive means of getting around.
less cars are good for us all
Source : Health Impacts of Transport Emissions in Australia: Economic Costs, Working Paper 63. Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics. Canberra, 2005
happiness and suburbia While the health and physical benefits of more walkable neighbourhoods may be quick to intuitively grasp, a new study has shown that people who live in walkable communities are happier, more socially engaged and more trusting that those who live in less walkable areas. This study has some profound implications for our cities. social networks and suburbia Active people demand less of their environment than car travellers and make their neighbourhoods more liveable. Active travel can also be good fun. Walking, cycling and public transport provide opportunities for social connection and inclusion with neighbours, friends and other community members. Neighbourhoods are safer when more people are on footpaths, streets and in parks. More active people are happier, healthier population from the day they start moving. They see doctors less often. They need less medication. They demand less of the healthcare system. They use cars less often, have less congested roads and benefit from less greenhouse emissions and air pollutants. Such people are also more likely to be both employable, reaping benefits for business, and employed, reaping tax benefits for government (i.e. all of us). The ageing of the population will be less of an issue if the ageing population is active.
get active If you dont think where and how you choose to live is connected to how active you are read this now. BENEFITS OF AN ACTIVE LIFE There are lots of ways of being active. Its no news to anyone that we chould all go to the gym more often, but having an active life or "active living" is a way of integrating the activity we can all benefit from into your every day life. Simple things such as walking to the shops, cycling to work, walking to school or even catching public transport are all ways of building-in the activity as part of your day rather than adding another thing into your busy day and calling it 'exercise'. There is a rapidly growing body of evidence which shows that being active in everyday life not only has substantial positive impacts on our individual health, but also offers environmental, social and economic benefits. There are Significant health benefits in even small increases in physical activity:
Source : Am J Prev Med 2004;27(2):87–96) © 2004 American Journal of Preventive Medicine, http://www.act-trans.ubc.ca/documents/ajpm-aug04.pdf
Source : www.walkscore.com
THE COSTS OF INACTIVITY
CONNECTING INACTIVITY TO HEALTH
Source : http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002760245_sprawlfat24m.html
cycling and health Shaping suburbia advocates suburbs that are both walkable and bike-able too. Cycling is a great way to build activity into your day. Its not just fun, its transport.
CYCLING OTHER BENEFITS
ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF CYCLE NETWORK
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