The very oldest parts of our cities and inner suburbs (that haven't been redeveloped) are streets of largely narrow houses with an odd smattering of businesses. And every few blocks there will be a block or five of shops. But out in the suburbs and in most country towns, people take advantage of the space.

It's been said that the suburban landscape is very car-oriented. When people think nothing of driving for five minutes to get somewhere, then you get houses on large blocks, shops far away and businesses in business parks. Make things car-unfriendly and walkable and you get the opposite. And a lot of Europe was developed before the car was wide-spread. Unlike the US.

Wade.