Happy City Summary

Cities can be designed to make us happier – they just need to bring us closer to nature, encourage connection, and allow simple mobility.

1. Suburbs fail to deliver on their promise of happiness

Early urban planners thought spreading cities into suburbs would improve quality of life. Increased space and access to rural settings seemed ideal. For a time, this appeared true, as suburbs initially offered cleaner and quieter environments.

However, today’s suburban life often leads to dissatisfaction. Commutes are long, isolating residents from their amenities, friends, and family. This lack of community access undermines the happiness that urban living could provide. Studies show that lengthy commutes negatively impact overall life satisfaction.

Relationships, which research consistently shows as the greatest contributor to personal happiness, are weakened in suburban setups. Less time to socialize and interact due to commutes leaves suburbanites deprived of joy that comes from human connection.

Examples

• A study found that Germans with longer commutes reported lower life satisfaction than those with shorter ones.
• Suburbanites often require cars for every day-to-day task, taking away time for relaxation or hobbies.
• Gallup World Polls consistently show strong relationships matter most for happiness – more than income or location.

2. Car-free public spaces foster connection

Cars dominate urban spaces, but they hinder social connections. The ever-present noise, space, and pollution they bring constrains our willingness to interact and spend time outdoors. Studies prove neighborhoods with heavy traffic lead to fewer friendships among residents.

Cities that embrace car-free zones encourage better social engagement. Copenhagen’s move to ban cars from select streets in the 1960s transformed these areas into bustling zones of activity and tranquility. People now use these spaces for strolling, chatting, and connecting with their neighbors.

Maintaining public areas is equally essential to keeping them accessible and safe. Neglected parks or streets filled with litter create anxiety and repel visitors. Clean and well-kept areas attract people of all ages, making city life more enjoyable.

Examples

• A 1971 study in San Francisco showed streets with low traffic had triple the local friendships compared to noisy, busy streets.
• Copenhagen’s car-free Strøget streets fostered newfound urban vibrancy, contrary to early doubts.
• Clean pavements and maintained parks have been proven to reduce subconscious fears, particularly in elderly populations.

3. Dense, diverse parks bring joy to life

Nature plays an essential role in improving city life. Even small green spaces can uplift moods and provide mental relief. Research suggests that we don’t need massive parks, but instead vegetation-rich, biologically varied environments.

A study in Sheffield, England, found visitors to parks filled with diverse plants and trees felt more positive than those visiting less-varied, open lawns. Variety and density stimulate a stronger connection to nature and feelings of joy.

Notably, tiny natural additions like vines on walls or flowered pathways can make a measurable difference. They contrast against endless concrete, breaking monotony for city dwellers.

Examples

• Visitors at a Sheffield park reported more happiness in areas with dense botanical diversity.
• In New York, a study showed that vines on bare walls completely changed people’s perception of an otherwise cold urban landscape.
• Diverse parks provide mental escapes without requiring vast land, easing access for local communities.

4. Cities shouldn’t overwhelm inhabitants

Living in busy cities can overstimulate and isolate us. Crowded urban environments may lead people to keep emotional distance, protecting themselves from the sensory overload caused by constant noise and activity.

When researchers compared behaviors in small towns versus cities, they found higher willingness from small-town residents to help strangers. Big-city living, by contrast, cleverly organizes people into secluded, impersonal zones, which limits group interactions.

Architecture and urban design play a massive role here. Dormitory studies in universities showed students in large, crowded living spaces reported more stress and isolation compared to smaller, shared suites.

Examples

• Stanley Milgram’s research highlighted how sensory overload in cities drives people to disconnect socially.
• A 1973 study on dorm living found students in smaller suite-style dorms built stronger bonds than those in open-floor living.
• Big cities often create unspoken walls between neighbors, limiting organic acts of kindness.

5. Bias and assumptions lead to poor city planning

Human biases influence our choices when designing cities, often leading to disappointing results. For instance, many people idealize living in sunny California, associating the weather with happiness. Yet, this often ignores critical factors like traffic, pollution, and social networks, which can lower life satisfaction overall.

Urban planners sometimes fall prey to these same instincts. Creating highways in 1960s Atlanta briefly solved traffic issues but encouraged more driving and car sales. Five years later, congestion returned worse than before.

Architectural innovations like Brazil’s Brasília city show how isolated approaches burn out. Despite its orderly layout, residents reported feeling lost and lonely due to its overly structured design, which missed the chaos and community of typical Brazilian spaces.

Examples

• Residents in California report similar happiness levels as those in Ohio, despite biases about weather.
• Traffic doubling in Atlanta is proof of shortsighted expansion plans that didn’t anticipate future behaviors.
• Brasília’s linear urban design created sterile, unwelcoming spaces rather than an interactive city.

6. Walking and biking are gateways to happiness

Self-propelled commuting methods, like biking or walking, give people healthier, happier commutes. Driving, by contrast, causes stress spikes due to traffic jams, delays, and environmental strain.

Cities that embrace alternatives see better outcomes. Paris introduced the Vélib' bike-sharing program, making cycling routine for countless residents. Biking reduces stress while encouraging physical fitness and mental well-being.

Safe and engaging pathways make walking more tempting. Cities designed with pedestrian-friendly streets witness more foot traffic as people enjoy navigating their surroundings.

Examples

• Walking to work or school enhances mood for both children and adults more than car rides.
• Paris’ Vélib' system drastically increased cycling in the city, creating a healthier urban life.
• Areas in New York designed for pedestrian comfort saw upticks in street interactions and longer strolls.

7. Cities that prioritize equity promote happiness

Distributing resources fairly within urban communities creates a happier environment for everyone. Public spaces, when reclaimed from traffic congestion or over-parking, improve accessibility for all income levels.

Bogotá’s mayor, Enrique Peñalosa, made changes benefiting every citizen, such as limiting cars and building TransMilenio, a rapid public bus system accessible to everyone. The move provided equal transportation opportunities while enhancing the urban landscape.

When wealthier residents criticized these adjustments as anti-car, Bogotá’s leadership defended the measures. The results spoke for themselves: better transport efficiency and overall public approval skyrocketed.

Examples

• Bogotá implemented car-free policies that now inspire similar projects globally, improving public wellness.
• Bicycle paths in Bogotá allowed less privileged citizens to commute affordably and comfortably.
• Changes in Bogotá improved reported quality of life outcomes in surveys compared to prior decades.

Takeaways

1. When relocating to a city, visit first and consider factors beyond aesthetics, like commuting, noise, and green spaces.
2. Advocate for better public transport and bike-sharing systems to improve overall well-being for your community.
3. Support policies that reclaim public spaces for everyone, ensuring fair resource access and improved happiness levels across different neighborhoods.