Sprawl in Atlanta

Atlanta is generally thought of as a suitable place to live. However, it is ranked as one of the most, if not the most, sprawling city in the United States. This has negative influences on several aspects, most notably traffic and the environment. The daily commute to work for most people from the suburbs not only wastes time but gas as well, further polluting the already suffering atmosphere. MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, exists as a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative to driving a car—it replaces them with trains and buses. However, MARTA is one of the only mass transit systems that still does not receive funding from the state.

-Oliver

Video: An Urban Sprawl By The Sea

The video above analyzes the results of urbanization because of a university that has just been given degree-awarding powers in the town Falmouth on the south coast of the English county of Cornwall. The university, University College Falmouth (primarily a traditional and performing arts school), has recently brought an influx of students from not only England but all around the world to this relatively small town. Above all, the narrator dissects the culture changes this arrival has installed in Falmouth through a series of interviews with students, business owners, and local residents. Specifically, he characterizes the recent display of skateboarding culture and graffiti.

-Oliver

Article Summary: "Telecommuting and Urban Sprawl"

The article "Telecommuting and Urban Sprawl" analyzes in depth the effect that telecommuting has on city size. It describes how telecommuting allows people to work from "electronic cottages" (their homes) or anywhere they are connected to the internet. The author, Hyok-Joo Rhee, mentions that commuting daily to a central workplace is "a phenomenon of the pre-information age." "Telecommuting and Urban Sprawl" concludes that with increased prevalence of telecommuting in the economy, the more expansive urban sprawl becomes. However, the effect that telecommuting will have on overall city size is still unclear as telecommuting remains a fledgling activity.

-Oliver