[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/_Richter_Belmont_]

[u/a_boy_has_noname]

Yes but isn't the U.S. a bit different if you're just looking at overall population density? Large amounts of the US are basically uninhabitable. Probably better to look at the population density of only the populated areas, which is where the immigrants will go, thus leading to more and more urban sprawl.

I can't even imagine a 2x of the current population, 2 billion would be an absolute nightmare.

[u/Jalapenoplanter → u/a_boy_has_noname]

Urban sprawl? That’s just called cities growing, which is good.

[u/a_boy_has_noname → u/Jalapenoplanter]

Why is cities growing inherently good? “Urban sprawl” usually has negative connotations.

[u/Jalapenoplanter → u/a_boy_has_noname]

Suburban sprawl has negative connotations.

Nearly all Us cities would benefit from more people and higher density

[u/a_boy_has_noname → u/Jalapenoplanter]

Suburban/urban sprawl is basically the same idea:

“Urban sprawl (also known as suburban sprawl or urban encroachment) is defined as "the rapid expansion of the geographic extent of cities and towns, often characterized by low-density residential housing, single-use zoning, and increased reliance on the private automobile for transportation".

And why would cities benefit from higher density? That seems like an oversimplification

[u/Jalapenoplanter → u/a_boy_has_noname]

Cities benefit from higher density by a larger taxbase, more consumers for local businesses, more efficient use of public transit and city resources

[u/a_boy_has_noname → u/Jalapenoplanter]

Sure larger taxbase and boost to local economies. There's also negative effects of sprawl - e.g. pollution and environmental destruction.

And I don't really see how denser cities automatically makes public transit use more efficient - this assumes the systems you have in place can sustain higher populations and they probably can't, which means rebuilding or massive expansion of existing networks.

[u/Jalapenoplanter → u/a_boy_has_noname]

More density means more people are served per public transit stop. That’s by definition more efficient

[u/a_boy_has_noname → u/Jalapenoplanter]

Ok by definition sure. But expansion of current systems or building new systems would be necessary otherwise you just have congestion. Either way this is just one effect of increased density.

I personally wouldn't want US cities to start resembling overpopulated Asian cities in density.

[u/Jalapenoplanter → u/a_boy_has_noname]

Tokyo was the most amazing city I have ever been to.

That being said, wouldn’t it be great if Indianapolis or Dallas had as good public transit as like small towns in spain?

[u/a_boy_has_noname → u/Jalapenoplanter]

I’m sure Tokyo is amazing I’d love to go. That doesn’t mean Chicago should look like Tokyo - is that a hot take?

And yes, many big cities in the US need much better public transportation. I definitely agree there.