Land use patterns are strongly interrelated with transportation options. Inexpensive gasoline over the past half-century allowed for dispersed land use patterns, resulting in relatively lower population densities and longer distances between residential and commercial areas. This has made alternatives such as walking and public transit less attractive and viable.
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In the long term, one of the responses to increasing costs and difficulties in transportation will be a spatial realignment of people and businesses. The question is whether it will happen quickly enough to minimize disruptions from peak oil. In addition, without public guidance or intervention, some of these realignments may leave vulnerable and marginalized populations worse off.
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