Street design may be widening America’s loneliness gap

A Nature Sustainability study argues that America’s loneliness problem isn’t just about individual social skills but about how suburbs are laid out—curving streets, cul-de-sacs, and car-centric homes reduce everyday interactions, increasing social isolation even if people aren’t physically far from others. The research distinguishes isolation from loneliness and notes that “garden-city” style configurations cut down casual encounters, suggesting redesigns could improve neighborly contact, though density or closeness alone doesn’t guarantee reduced loneliness.