CITY LIFE
Living in a city is an idea about which people share differing opinions. Some are attracted to the bright lights and hustle and bustle offered by a major metropolitan area, while others would just as soon keep their distance from such an environment. Living in a city can offer residents an array of benefits, but it also comes with some disadvantages.
| Advantages
| Disadvantages
| | Social Aspects
| Poverty and Safety Concerns
| | Many venues of city life offer opportunities for social life. Outdoor activities, free events, book readings and lectures provide the chance to meet new people and form new friendships.
Since cities contain large clusters of people in a relatively small area, there are more opportunities to meet people than in the suburbs. Dating and nightlife are abundant in cities. For a single person, this means that he or she could increase the chances of finding a spouse. People who are starting a business or looking for that one "big break" may have a better chance of making a valuable contact.
| Often stemming from issues of class, social, and racial stratification and socio-economic polarization, urban poverty is an enormous problem in many cities. Concentrated poverty in cities also has an effect on all other city life issues.
Big cities tend to have higher rates of crime due to poverty and density.
Crime figures for the city are always higher than that of rural areas. People who live in the city are exposed to a violent environment on the streets and from watching the news on television. Some city dwellers don't bother to help a person who is being attacked -- they prefer to mind their own business. Cities spawn gangs that cause much of the violence; rape, robbery, assault and murder have become common everyday occurrences in some cities.
| | Culture, Education and Entertainments
|
| | City life offers access to information and knowledge.
Some of the best colleges, university, libraries and research facilities are located in cities.
Cities also present more opportunities for people who enjoy cultural activities. For example, New York City is known for its abundance of museums, art galleries, theaters and fine restaurants. Residents can also experience the unique cultures of the different ethnic groups and nationalities that often make up a large portion of a city's population.
| The disadvantage of a city that draws tourists is the crowds. Droves of people coexist in a single city, so all aspects of life can become crowded. The mixture of different cultures also draws people to cities.
However, increased diversity also increases the chances that there will be conflict between cultural, socio-economic and political groups.
| | Employment
| Cost of Living
| | A number of big corporations, successful companies, financial institutions and artistic endeavors choose to have their headquarters in cities. Job opportunities are often more numerous and desireable in the city.
More economic opportunities exist for those living in megalopolises versus other smaller areas. Cities often spring up around specific industries. Some cities develop near major industrial centers, such as the steel mills of Chicago. Other cities are built near ports, which have job opportunities related to shipping, importing and exporting, such as in New York. Megalopolises emerge because large numbers of people settle in a particular area due to an abundance of job opportunities.
| Generally, the convenience of cities makes them costlier. Larger cities with more industry, including Los Angeles and New York, are more expensive than smaller cities. Often, housing further from cities is cheaper, larger and may come with more land. However, the area of the city also affects the price. Space limitations may also make parking costlier in the city.
Big cities are associated with a high cost of living. Houses and apartments in prime neighborhoods tend to be much smaller and much more expensive. Goods and services can also be more costly. The cost of living is somewhat mediated by higher average salaries and public transportation.
| | Housing and Neighborhoods
|
| | Many large cities are considered walking cities, where it is easier to get around on foot than to travel by cab or public transport. Neighborhoods have all of the amenities residents need for daily life, including markets, restaurants and schools. Walking cities promote a sense of community and can improve health.
| Housing is often at a premium and is typically more expensive in the city. Instead of having a house with a yard and room for the kids to roam, residents may have to resort to living in a tiny apartment that is several stories high.
Cities are more congested than the suburbs or the country. Residents may be forced to live in tight quarters near noisy or inconsiderate neighbors.
Many people live in apartments with thin walls or houses very close to each other. This results in hearing your neighbor's arguments and the neighborhood kids playing loudly.
Gentrification of certain areas within cities can lead to the forcing out of lower income residents to make way for more affluent city dwellers.
| | Transport
|
| | The advantage of a large city, however, is the efficiency of public transportation. Living in a city can provide easy access to work, shopping and entertainment. Reliable subway or bus systems and ever-present taxis make transportation relatively inexpensive. There is no need to buy gas, and many city dwellers don't own cars at all, eliminating the need for insurance, registration and maintenance. Some cities provide pedestrian paths that enable walkers and bicyclists to get around safely.
| Traffic can be a tedious trip at rush hour on your way to work, and more traffic means more car accidents.
Heavy traffic and constant congestion keep car-lovers away from large cities. The freedom to get behind the wheel and choose your destination is lost in many cities where cabs are the only vehicles on the road.
| | | Ecology
| |
| Congestion causes severe pollution in many large cities. Air quality is very low in large metropolitan areas, which can lead to respiratory illnesses. This can raise the cost of health care and reduce productivity in the workplace. Many large cities are implementing eco-friendly initiatives, however, and it is easier to live a "green" lifestyle in cosmopolitan areas that are invested in reducing their residents' carbon footprints.
| | Health
|
| | Some of the best hospitals and doctors are in cities. Prominent and experienced health care professionals locate their practices in cities, where they can reach many people and can be near excellent hospitals and rehab centers.
| The urban environment can lead to physical and mental health issues unique to city dwellers. People who live in cities are constantly being exposed to an unhealthy lifestyle that leads to health problems. The free availability of junk food and hectic pace of life do not allow much room for a healthy diet. People are constantly in a rush in the city, and they end up eating on the run, eating in cars while driving, eating between meetings or not at all. As air and water pollution increases, it may bring disease. Stressful jobs and commuting and trying to juggle too many things lead to heart problems and high blood pressure.
| | | Fast Pace of Life
| | | The fast pace of city life is not for everyone. Many bigger cities never sleep. A faster pace can increase levels of stress and make people more hostile to one another, which can contribute to increased levels of violence and crime. People who enjoy a leisurely stroll in the fresh air or a friendly greeting from a stranger may find city life incompatible with their values. They may also experience the lonely feeling of being just a face in a crowd instead of part of a community.
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