Article

2008-07-02 Great White North

Toronto article, notes Canada not as surburban-centered as US.According to some doomsday scenarios, spiking gas prices could turn the cul-de-sacs and two-car garages that surround North America's cities - built over the past 60 years and designed for the convenience of people with cars - into tomorrow's slums.

The predictions for the most part come from subscribers to the theory of "peak oil," which holds that crude prices will shoot permanently upward as global demand outstrips dwindling supply, ruining the economy. But their predictions are getting a second look now, as suburbanites, especially in the United States, grumble at the rising price of a fill-up.

Some warn the cost of gasoline will make the most sprawling U.S. suburbs so unattractive that housing values there will collapse, forcing many people to abandon their homes for urban areas better served by public transit and leaving only squatters, criminals and those who can't afford to leave the outskirts.

I didn't see man-made gloalwarmingclimatechange as part of the cause, but it must be in there, somewhere.

Posted by Bobby 2008-07-02 14:07|| || Front Page|| [11144 views ] Top

#1 $5/gal gas won't kill off the suburbs, but it will send marginal wage earners back to the cities. Six figure earners will continue to live where they choose. Thus, another section of the population is impoverished, the middle class is further reduced and the Democrats gain more voters.

Posted by Iblis 2008-07-02 14:28|| 2008-07-02 14:28|| Front Page Top

#2 There may be a glimmer of truth to this, have you looked at home prices compared to condo prices lately? Condos in a metro area are still quite high, house prices where I live are down about 30% (at the closing price, not asking price).

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-02 14:38|| 2008-07-02 14:38|| Front Page Top

#3 The 'Breaking Point' is getting closer here. In many of the 'Affluent' ex-urbs there are not enough high paying jobs for the population and very limited if any mass transit to the areas most of the residents commute to today. Also, Real Estate 'Developers' are now targeting the poorer 'close in' suburbs for gentrification.

Posted by Crerens Big Foot7266 2008-07-02 14:50|| 2008-07-02 14:50|| Front Page Top

#4 In the Chicago area folks in the outlying towns are caught between high gas prices, higher taxes caused by high gas prices, and the Democrats they fled who run the older urban area. Actually the Democrats run the outlying towns too...

Posted by watcher 2008-07-02 14:53|| 2008-07-02 14:53|| Front Page Top

#5 They forget the free market. Eventually, cheaper fuels, fuel efficient cars, electric, etc. will come along and make it more affordable to drive 3 freakin' hours for a commute.

Typical fear mongering to sell papers and push liberal agendas.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-07-02 15:02|| 2008-07-02 15:02|| Front Page Top

#6 At the same time, as people want more mass transit, it will be built. A region can put more busses out there, and Los Angeles has demonstrated that you can build a new subway in this day and age.

I live in the Chicago area, and while I don't trust the CTA as far as I can throw a State Street subway car, regions of the country that figure out how to bring some mass transit out to the suburbs should do okay.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2008-07-02 15:34|| 2008-07-02 15:34|| Front Page Top

#7 More telecommuting would help too; I spend enough time in meetings [ptui] that I could just teleconference and save a good deal of money.

Posted by Jonathan 2008-07-02 16:04|| 2008-07-02 16:04|| Front Page Top

#8 In Detroit, and many other cities I've been in, suburbanites never go into the city. Many live in one suburb and work in another. Detroit is more of a donut than a city and suburbs.

Posted by Formerly Dan 2008-07-02 16:11|| 2008-07-02 16:11|| Front Page Top

#9 It cycles, but there have been periods where Mr.Wife would conduct teleconferences from home in the morning, then drive in for meetings in the afternoon.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-07-02 16:42|| 2008-07-02 16:42|| Front Page Top

#10 folks with hybrids can still live in the suburbs. This will have marginal impacts on city shape, much bigger impacts on vehicle choice and driving habits.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-07-02 16:48|| 2008-07-02 16:48|| Front Page Top

#11 My wife works for probably the biggest company in Cincinnati, they recently changed their policy to allow 4-10hr days. So I think you're right Darth Vader, a combination of things will come about together to help assimilate this.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-02 18:52|| 2008-07-02 18:52|| Front Page Top

#12 I've been working from home one day a week for some time now (luckily there's been work that can be done over our network or on Lexis, which is internet-based).

Of course, it's actually my day off (we've had lots of extra work lately), but who cares - it's moola. I've been putting in some time on weekends too trying to make our deadline. It's great to be able to work whenever I have a few hours without having to get at least minimally presentable and drive downtown to the office for a couple of hours work.

Not every job can be done over the internet - most of mine can't - but what can definitely cuts down on the commute. Which makes me soooooo happy. :-D

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2008-07-02 19:17|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2008-07-02 19:17|| Front Page Top

#13 I'm with Darth on this. The gummit ain't doing squat, but the consumers and capitalists are changing at the speed of light.

Posted by KBK 2008-07-02 21:51|| 2008-07-02 21:51|| Front Page Top

#14 forcing many people to abandon their homes for urban areas better served by public transit and leaving only squatters, criminals and those who can't afford to leave the outskirts.

Let'em all move back, I'll just keep singing....

Green acres is the place to be
Farm living is the life for me
Land spreading out,
so far and wide
Keep Manhattan,
just give me that countryside.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-07-02 21:57|| 2008-07-02 21:57|| Front Page Top

#15

Posted by 3dc 2008-07-02 22:48|| 2008-07-02 22:48|| Front Page Top

#16 To put this in perspective, gas prices in the U.S. today are where they were in Canada a year ago. People adjust. You don't see lots of large SUV's and pick ups in Canada.

Posted by Keystone 2008-07-02 23:15|| 2008-07-02 23:15|| Front Page Top

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15:46 Skidmark
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14:04 swksvolFF
13:47 Regular joe
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13:31 Abu Uluque
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12:51 Grom the Affective