“We shape our dwellings,” Winston Churchill said, “and afterwards our dwellings shape us.” The ‘burbs that were designed as peaceful retreats from city smog and traffic are now themselves home to urban stress, with none of the benefits of life in the city.
A new study links strip malls, cul-de-sacs, McMansions and other features of the American landscape to an ailing population. The study says life in the sprawling suburbs may lead to high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis and headaches. The dearth of sidewalks and town centers puts moms and dads in the role of taxi drivers, with hundreds of miles logged every week.
Hear about the links between where we live and how we feel.
Guests:
Dolores Hayden, professor of architecture and of American studies at Yale University, author of “A Field Guide to Sprawl”
Don Chen, founding executive director and CEO, Smart Growth America.