e paved area around all homes reduces rainfall percolation back to ground water tables. The increased run off due to the paving over of existing soil, causes erosion, and carries away surface pollutants such as lawn and garden chemicals. The unplanned communities that extend out from the cities eat up existing rich farmland, requiring food to be transported in from greater distances.The only way we are going to be able to move away from unsustainable practices and behavior is through education, inclusion, planning, and regulation. By educating Americans about the effects of the car-dependent lifestyle and suburban sprawl, they will be able to make informed choices. This subject is something that should be taught to schoolchildren at the earliest opportunity. Including a diverse group of citizens and actively soliciting their ideas and opinions will lead to consensus and a unified population. While long term programs and vision were clearly not a priority in community and city planning in the past, sustainable communities require the insight and cooperation of experts and professionals from many specialized occupations. Finally, pressuring and lobbying elected bodies at all levels, local, state, and government will force them to act decisively. Laws will have to be implemented that will certainly be viewed unpopular by some. For example, a moratorium on construction projects that contribute to urban sprawl could effect a more efficient use of land and lead to more compact growth. A renaissance of city planning and integrated design that offers something for everyone is needed. Instead of spending millions of dollars upgrading and building roads, funds could be diverted to fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly ways of moving people such as, electric buses and trolleys, high-speed trains, and monorail. To curtail automobile use, tax penalties could be levied that would make owning and driving internal combustion vehicles less desir...
