Social patterns 67are the core components of culture, such as aesthetics, traditions, morals,
learning, and language. Social patterns and culture are the two themes intro-
duced in this and the next section.
Four somewhat dissimilar perspectives are used to explore social patterns
relative to the topic of this book: (1) social linkages and spatial scale; (2) squat-
tersettlements and the poor; (3) transportation in urbanization; and (4) land
protection and social pattern.
Social linkages and spatial scale
Neighborhood,asaspaceof nearby residential buildings and people, and
community,asagroupof people with vibrant linkages, are useful place to begin
considering social patterns and urban regions. What makes a neighborhood
a community? People interacting and remaining in a neighborhood creates a
community (Ravetz2000,LeGates and Stout2003,Formanet al.2004,Handy
2005).For example, safe roads, sidewalks, paths/walkways/nature trails, bicycle
routes, meeting places, playgrounds, ball fields, tiny parks, local-community-
event sites, and town conservation lands help create neighborhoods with actively
interacting people. These are spatial objects available for planning and design-
ing. A high frequency of local trips by residents walking or bicycling, rather
than driving, catalyzes interactions and a community. Safe, attractive walkways
are especially significant as linkages. Appealing meeting places for children and
neighbors are of paramount importance. Other types of neighborhoods can be
described.
In a broader perspective, a sense of place creates and maintains neighbor-
hoods. Small parks and greenspaces help define the character of aplace, which
elicits human responses such as understanding, coherence, welcome, danger,
or mystery (Jacobs 1992, Kaplanet al.1998). Nature and the built environment
combine as the central components of a place for people.
Attheurban-region scale we are all in a giant sandbox together. To establish
and sustain the vibrant social linkages of a community, minimizing chaos and
conflict is valuable. That requires collaboration of residents and at least some
planning of space. The task is increasingly hard and urgent; so many people
from afar keep entering the sandbox.
Regional social groups and organizations and institutions usually exist, but
mostly in a scattered, intermittent, and peripheral way. Regional cyclists recreate
together on weekends and work to create a regional trail network. Analogous
groups may exist for hiking, canoeing, off-road-vehicle riding, bird-watching,
sailing, and so forth. Service organizations may have regional activities. Public-
health institutions may work regionally with the public. Solid-waste disposal and
recycling efforts may link the public regionally. Some conservation organizations