Yes, I know suburban areas, specifically America style suburbia can be boring and all, but what does the city have to make you life more enjoyable?

1. Density/proximity

2. Uniqueness/variety

Because of the greater density, there's more of everything within a smaller radius, so that everything from stores, restaurants, offices, to friends and entertainment are more accessible. And although there certainly are exceptions, most cities tend to have more unique elements than suburbs - sometimes because architectural heritage spans many eras, and sometimes simply because more money is spent on centrally located projects because of their higher profiles.

These conditions combine to create an atmosphere of vitality and intensity that suburban areas almost always lack.

#1. Orchestral performances/opera performances by world class orchestras/opera associations.

#2. Theatre of a high calibre. Yes, you might get local theatre in the suburbs but it's rarely of the same calibre as that based in the city centre.

#3. Art galleries. These are rarely present in the suburbs.

#4. High class restaurants tend to be based in the city centre and the variety also tends to be greater.

#5. Ease of mobility in the city centre in comparison to the suburbs which allows you to enjoy more of these activities.

I could add more, but I'm bored now.

Be in a city environment. Not have a car.

Yes, I know suburban areas, specifically America style suburbia can be boring and all, but what does the city have to make you life more enjoyable?Life! :)

In the city you have clubs, pedestrian streets, street life, 24h stores, light, amusement parks, cinemas, parks everything you could ever want..


In the suburbs you have boring dead streets, a few trainstations and if lucky a crummy club filled with teens who got drunk at home..

Of course nightlife and shopping. Yes you can shop in those suburban shopping malls but they lack the variety compared to shopping in a city centre

Beautiful old buildings that were built to last for centuries and not these prefabricated suburban 'homes'.

well in miami is watching a skyscraper rising and waiting until completion it is fun for me i live in the city and the suburbs.the city is better because in the city i live in a condo on the 43th floor and a nice downtown view.but in the suburbs i live in a 2 story house wich has a boring view but more space.

How about walk to work? Or for youth walk to school!

I, although I live in deepest suburbia, have a way to school of only about 1,5km (1 mi), perfectly to cycle!

Walk to buy milk? :dunno:

I, although I live in deepest suburbia, have a way to school of only about 1,5km (1 mi), perfectly to cycle!

You're not in American styled suburbia. ;)

Even British suburbia isn't quite as remote as American.

The better question would be "What can you do in the suburbs that you can't do in the city?"
Can't think of one thing.

In Melbourne you can go to the footbal, but in the suburbs you can only see the local football games. Having said that if ya live in Jolimont or Docklands the stadiums arent too far!

The better question would be "What can you do in the suburbs that you can't do in the city?"
Can't think of one thing.

1. Send you're kids to a decent school system.
2. Buy a brand new 2,500 sq. ft. house for under $250,000.
3. Do all you're shopping under one roof.
4. Never see or speak to your neighbors.
5. See a real live cow.
6. Look like 98% of the people around you.
7. Park your car where you want, when you want, and without paying for it.
8. Leave your front door wide open and not worry about losing anything when you come home.
9. Do all your errands without leaving your car.
10. Get lost in your own neighborhood.

Beeing able to walk to work is probably the highest kind of living quality.

POSSIBILITY

1. Send you're kids to a decent school system.
2. Buy a brand new 2,500 sq. ft. house for under $250,000.
3. Do all you're shopping under one roof.
4. Never see or speak to your neighbors.
5. See a real live cow.
6. Look like 98% of the people around you.
7. Park your car where you want, when you want, and without paying for it.
8. Leave your front door wide open and not worry about losing anything when you come home.
9. Do all your errands without leaving your car.
10. Get lost in your own neighborhood.

1. There are also great private and public schools in cities.
8. I can't even do this in the suburbs^^

You're not in American styled suburbia. ;)

Even British suburbia isn't quite as remote as American.

No^^ The population density in the county where i live is about 1,000/km². But I think that I'm just lucky, because many of my friends get to school in a motorized way.

To be honest, I'm not anti-suburb. I do believe that for young children growing up, it can be more pleasant in the suburbs for them. Larger house (which also benefits the parents to get away from the kids), quieter and safer streets, more parks, easier sport facilities etc.

But alas, I don't have kids and personally prefer urban living. Below are some things that either I can do easier living in the city, or couldn't really do in the suburbs.

* Ease of Restaurants, cafe's and bars. I can walk to over 200 restaurants, bars and cafe's from where I live. There is not something that one can usually do in the suburbs. It certainly makes things easy, great choice and no worries about drinking

* Museums, galleries and exhibitions. Yes, of cause people in the suburbs can visit museums, but they must come to the city for that, and it becomes a day out. I can (and do) pop into museums and galleries after work or whenever I feel the urge. This is city life.

* Walk to the cinema. There are plenty of cinema's in the suburbs and some people may actually be close enough to walk though most will need a car. Not here. As well as much more choice in main stream cinema's, we also have a wealth of art house cinema's that is not available in most suburbs. Add to the fact that here in Europe we can drink alcohol in cinema's, we also don't have to worry about driving home.

* Apartment living. Sure, it's smaller, but that means easier to clean, no lawns to mow, no hedges to trim and no roofing tiles to replace after a storm. Ease of maintenance basically. I live here and don't have to work so hard to maintain it. Of cause, you can also have an apartment in the suburbs. They do exist, but then what is the point, you may as well live in the city.

* Downtown shopping: I personally don't mind suburban malls, especially if they are architecturally attractive. But let's be honest, there is usually much more shopping and choice in the central city, that's where the flagship stores usually are, the big department stores and the greatest choice. Unless of cause you live in a really crap town where the downtown has died, but not here.

* Public transportation. Sure, some suburbs have the odd train or buses, but we have metro's, trams and plenty more, just ready for when it's that little bit too far to walk, or ride a bike.

* Central Station. When you arrive back from a trip or a holiday by train, you're almost home. No need to transfer to a bus or long commuter train, just walk out and either stroll home or a quick metro leg. Luggage too heavy, no worries, because you live close by, taxi fares are so cheap you never think twice in using them.

* Airport. Actually, these are usually out in the suburbs or metro area. However, unless you are lucky to live in a suburb close by or on a transit route, most people have to either drive to them (and find a place to park the car for a couple of weeks), but living in the city, there is always direct and fast transport links to the airport(s), which again makes things a lot easier when travelling.

Many more I can write, but maybe some other time.

you can sit in your highrise and watch other people with binoculars

its pretty common

was visiting my friends and one of them was sitting on the couch watching some dinner party across a way

walk for pleasure.

In lots of suburbs there great public transport (euro suburbs).

Life! :)

In the city you have clubs, pedestrian streets, street life, 24h stores, light, amusement parks, cinemas, parks everything you could ever want..


In the suburbs you have boring dead streets, a few trainstations and if lucky a crummy club filled with teens who got drunk at home..

It's funny you write that, because in the U.S. 24h stores (Wal-Mart comes to mind), amusement parks, and cinemas are generally associated with the suburbs.

But something that (at least in Minnesota) seems to exist mainly in the urban core: unique ethnic restaurants. Sure, there's an Indian restaurant or Chinese take-out place in most Minneapolis suburbs today, but if you want something "odd", like Nepalese, Salvadoran, or Somali, then you'll probably be in the city. Not to mention all the good ethnic markets - Asian, African, and Mexican, that are mainly in city limits (though in fairly "suburban" - like areas at times). Though most Russian grocery stores seem to be out in the suburbs.

walk for pleasure.

You can do that in most suburbs, too, but there's a good chance there won't be anywhere in reasonable walking distance to walk to.

And even if there is somewhere close enough for walking (or biking, which is actually quite likely), suburban roads in the U.S. tend to be rather dangerous highways, which you are sometimes more or less forced to take. A lot of the suburban municipalities in the Twin Cities area have excellent bike trail systems that (I'm guessing) go to a lot of places, but I would hate to forget my GPS and not remember how to return to the trail and be forced to bike on a busy highway.

You don't need a car. A sense of freedom. You can get laid at anytime cruising people. You can wear whatever you want without fear of looking out of place. You can drink and not have to worry about driving. You can talk to people while going from place to place. You don't have to worry about running over small children while talking on your cell phone. Less chance of the police arresting you since you are not driving. You can walk with a joint in your pocket vs. driving where you will get caught lose your car and go to jail. In essence you have access to variety without the hassle of authority. It also depends on the city. Cities such as Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Tampa or Phoenix do not count since people drive everywhere. I am talking about real pedestrian cities like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, New York, Baltimore, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Washington DC, New Orleans, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and South Miami Beach. You don't have to mow the lawn or rake leaves.
You can live above a store.

"You can do that in most suburbs, too, but there's a good chance there won't be anywhere in reasonable walking distance to walk to."

I've tried that and guess what the cops stopped me and frisked me just for walking. Suburbs are full of paranoia.

"If you look like you don't fit into the area, or something seems suspicious, expect to be stopped pretty much anywhere. This isn't limited to any one municipality or area, but is a *worldwide* issue in many respects.

If you're walking around suburbia in fitness attire, you'll be left alone. But, change your outfit to rags or something "dirty", and expect to be hassled.

If you're walking in a run-down area wearing nice clothing, expect to be stopped, too (the police either assume you are lost or are there to buy drugs - in either case, you'll be questioned).

Without getting into any issues or discussions of profiling (socio-economic, racial, or otherwise), I will comment that to a large extent, most police officers will have an eye for what is normal and what crosses the line into suspicious. Many times, this street intuition turns out to be justified and results in an arrest for a legitimate reason. (I base this off my experience with law enforcement personnel with whom I've worked and known)."

Suburbs are good for raising kids and dying in, I suppose.

Choice, variety, living without the urge to slit your wrists.

Yes, I know suburban areas, specifically America style suburbia can be boring and all, but what does the city have to make you life more enjoyable?

The one point that comes as first to my mind:

Short walkable distances, a far superior PT service (more lines, better intervals station are nearer) for those distances that are too long to go.

Moreover I would also guess a vibrant street life is not exactly what suburbs are usually famous for.

Of course there are also the major cultural institutions inside the city.

Walk to buy milk? :dunno:

Ehm,... why not? Is it better to waste half a liter of fuel to buy a liter of milk?

In lots of suburbs there great public transport (euro suburbs).

Sure, but by definition they have to be worse than within the urban area. Its a simple matter of density, or better the lack of it. An interval that is a disaster within the urban area, might be considered good in Suburbia.

Ehm,... why not? Is it better to waste half a liter of fuel to buy a liter of milk?

Exactly. I could just walk to buy some milk. Can't do that in many suburbs here...

I don't know about the walking to buy milk. When I lived out in the country there were always country pantries within walking distance. Granted, it would be a 20 minute walk one way...

most of this actually applies to European and Asian cities. Most cities in the US and in the American continent, the downtown area is not an attractive place to be with lack of things to do and with crime and thug-filled streets...I lived in Washington DC and I was BORED to death and moved to a nearby suburban Fairfax, Virginia and was EVEN MORE BORED to death with lack of things to do. All you can do in suburbs especially in the US is hang around Walmart, Target, BestbUy, Circuitcity, or eat the hell out of the lunch buffets or specials that restaurants have, otherwise nothing special like most European and Asian cities...and no complaining because it's a fact

^^ you have no idea what you're talking about... The dead boring downtowns and even more dead suburbs don't apply at all to the whole American continent, it's just for the US and maybe Canada...

most of this actually applies to European and Asian cities. Most cities in the US and in the American continent, the downtown area is not an attractive place to be with lack of things to do and with crime and thug-filled streets...I lived in Washington DC and I was BORED to death and moved to a nearby suburban Fairfax, Virginia and was EVEN MORE BORED to death with lack of things to do. All you can do in suburbs especially in the US is hang around Walmart, Target, BestbUy, Circuitcity, or eat the hell out of the lunch buffets or specials that restaurants have, otherwise nothing special like most European and Asian cities...and no complaining because it's a fact

At least the centres of US cities are becoming more vibrant and are improving. But in the major cities such as NY, LA or Chicago, there are alot of activities in its suburbs.

Canadian suburbia is isolating and mind numbing. You are dependent on a car and only encounter other people when you get out of your car inside a mall or other public building. City life is far more exciting and fulfilling. You have freedom of mobility regardless of money because you can walk absolutely everywhere. The walk is pedestrian friendly and packed full of interesting sights and smells, unique experiences, and constant interaction with other people. These are the things that stimulate and enrich one's life.

Suburbia offers more space for oneself, but to what end? It just feels like a place to go die for anti social boring people. I lived in a beautiful, lush, hilly Canadian suburb with deer in the back yard throughout my teens. It was idyllic in many ways, but I also felt like I was slowly slipping into a coma. It can be such a lonely, monotonous, soul destroying existence.

most of this actually applies to European and Asian cities. Most cities in the US and in the American continent, the downtown area is not an attractive place to be with lack of things to do and with crime and thug-filled streets...I lived in Washington DC and I was BORED to death and moved to a nearby suburban Fairfax, Virginia and was EVEN MORE BORED to death with lack of things to do. All you can do in suburbs especially in the US is hang around Walmart, Target, BestbUy, Circuitcity, or eat the hell out of the lunch buffets or specials that restaurants have, otherwise nothing special like most European and Asian cities...and no complaining because it's a fact

You're about 5 years too late and using your same old stereotypes again. The dead downtowns with crime and thug filled streets apply to a minority of cities these days. Even cities like Hartford are seeing their downtowns beautify. No, they aren't anything compared to European and Asian centers, but most aren't anything like what you're saying.

alot of people enjoy the suburbs because they are more quiet and laid back. That is fun for alot of people. I like suburbs because they are alot closer to places to going fishing, golfing, etc.

You're about 5 years too late and using your same old stereotypes again. The dead downtowns with crime and thug filled streets apply to a minority of cities these days. Even cities like Hartford are seeing their downtowns beautify. No, they aren't anything compared to European and Asian centers, but most aren't anything like what you're saying.

I love that development in the US. Hopefully the city cores rise to past glory again. Rising fuel prices will certainly help their share.

Maybe one day even the suburbanization trend in the US can be reverted.