Recent research into whether the rise of social media is in fact making people more isolated has reawakened interest in investigations a generation ago on the isolating effect of urban traffic, writes Brian Byrne.
Carried out in the early 80s by Donald Appleyard in San Francisco, the survey found that different levels of automotive traffic diminishes human connections. Using norms of light, medium and heavy traffic flows, he found that residents on the 'light' traffic streets had more friends and acquaintances than those on the 'heavy' urban arteries. He published his results in a book called 'Liveable Streets'.
Appleyard's research was replicated in 2008 in Bristol by academic Joshua Hart, who found similar results. On 'medium' streets, respondents said neighbours 'don't see each other like they used to', and one mother wouldn't let her children make friends across the street because of the danger in crossing the road.
