It has been reported in many cities that planners tend to organize shops, schools,offices and homes in specific areas and detach them from each other. Considering some obstacles for citizens this might create, I wholeheartedly believe that the benefits of this policy overshadow its drawbacks.
The dark side of such policy is that it may lead to dependence on transport. For citizens without private vehicle or public transport it will be difficult to move around. If planners organize shops, schools, offices and homes in this fashion, city’s road system may be overloaded. Apart from, the number of cars will increase, which leads to traffic jams, air pollution and noise in the city. In my hometown, Tashkent, for instance, majority of offices are organized in center of the city, millions of residents are struggeling to commute to these buildings, as they live on the outskirts of the city.
Despite such compelling counterarguments, there are many upsides of such planning approach. One of them is urban order and convenience. Firstly, when residential buildings, schools, offices and shops are located separately, it is easier to navigate in the city. People understand where the business district is, where the residential area is, and where the shopping area is, which makes it easier to move around and plan the day. A case in point Singapore, renowned country by good organization of capital city. The city is clearly divided into residential, business, educational and shopping areas. Thanks to this, there is order, cleanliness, convenient transportation and high security.
In conclusion, this approach of organization of the city operates like a mixed blessing. Whereas it may make moving around the city more expensive, it insures higher convenience, urban order and safety. Considering both aspects, I firmly believe that the advantages are far more significant.