Cities are often seen as places of opportunity, but there are also some major drawbacks of
living in a large metropolis. In my opinion, governments could do much more to improve
city life for the average inhabitant.
The main problem for anyone who hopes to migrate to a large city is that the cost of
living is likely to be much higher than it is in a small town or village. Inhabitants of
cities have to pay higher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Another issue is
that urban areas tend to suffer from social problems such as high crime and poverty rates
in comparison with rural areas. Furthermore, the quality in the cities is often poor, due
to pollution from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usually
overcrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful.
However, there are various steps that government could take to tackle these problems.
Firstly, they could invest money in the building of affordable or social housing to reduce
the cost of living. Secondly, politicians have the power to ban vehicles from city centers
and promote the use of cleaner public transport, which would help to reduce both air
pollution and traffic congestion. In London, for example, the introduction of a congestion
charge for drivers has helped to curb the traffic problem. A third option would be to
develop provincial towns and rural areas, by moving industry and jobs to those regions,
in order to reduce the pressure on major cities.
In conclusion, government could certainly implement a range of measures to enhance
the quality of life for all city residents.