In the face of an "inaccurate claim" that city neighbors are less friendly than their suburban counterpart, Robert Steuteville of New Urban News provides comments on the University of California study "Social Interaction and Urban Sprawl".
"It turns out that the original claim - widely reported in the media and, as of January 3, still being presented in a press release on the UC website - is inaccurate. The study really found that a 93 percent decline in density results in only a 5 percent higher chance of talking with neighbors regularly. Rather than a small decrease in density having a significant effect, it takes a 15-fold decline to boost social activity even a little, according to the study."
But even that small effect may be illusory. The survey responses actually show no significant difference in levels of social activity at various densities, with the exception that in higher-density areas people talk to their neighbors and hang out with friends more frequently. That's right - more frequently, not less."
Read the full story: Cities less friendly? Phooey!
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