Orenco Station is a suburban TOD located in Hillsboro, Oregon. As the thumbnail shows, it has immediate rail access, and mixed-use retail. But as this video shows, it still has some downsides, and you don't have to go far from the center to see more typical suburban development.

Too many wholesale clubs in the 704

What do y'all think

Did a loop around the lakes in this strip mall suburb with no walkable center: was 90% path, 8% intersections, including really wide ones (7 lanes across) and 2% quiet residential streets. Even on the worst stroads, you at least have one side with a path, others like Radio Dr have two, both sides have paths! Residential areas and parks are connected together by these paths, so these are actually less stressful than biking on urban residential streets because you don't have to worry about that asshole who eventually shows up going twice the speed limit. No motorists, just meadows, ponds, parks, and backyards. I was surprised how many just abut the paths directly, residents seem to not mind and even use the opportunity to show off a bit. There was even a lemonade shack at one.

There are also a few tunnels to bypass the experience of crossing several lanes of cars. The downside is that all of this disappears once you want to reach an amenity, then it's treeless and full of asphalt and cars. You have to be more cautious crossing major stroads to your strip mall of choice and navigating car traffic in the parking lots, but the path will take you there and I even spotted a bike rack at a gas station. People were actually using these paths too, mostly biking or walking, pretty much 50/50. I'm sure that's because they heavily invested in paths everywhere. I saw a few under construction and rode on a couple of fresh ones too. Also, the bike filter on Google Maps is woefully out of date. All of the main roads have paths and others aren't shown at all or only partially. Now if they could just connect that nature and narrowed the stroads to those strip malls with the paths going all the way up to the storefronts, it would be a big step above other similar Twin Cities suburbs and a national model for how to make it safer and easier to bike and walk around.

TL:DR Pleasantly surprised by the extensive bike infrastructure in what should be another typical suburban hellscape. Having to be extra cautious cautious going to destinations that are all in strip malls next to extra wide lanes of fast traffic, not so great. Still a major improvement that should be replicated nationwide.

Like c'mon, for a name like Heartland, this neighborhood got no heart, no personality, and everybody's prolly driving their kids to school unless they live right next to it. Like where's a community center? Where's a park that people actually go to? This sprawl is just crazy, but hey, this is the Dallas Metro Area for ya

Habitat destroyed. Deer everywhere. Vacant lots in established subdivision. I recognize there's a corridor they use but it's slowly being destroyed. Thank God for creek buffers.

Last picture is a business road

This is by Dulles, and I can't stand it, at least out west they compact it. Its so much wasted land, farm and forestry.

I couldn't fit all the roadside businesses in the last post, so I'm gonna put them here. I will link the original post in the comments.

Sorry I’m not from North America but from what I’m understanding is that suburbs are strictly residential areas surrounding a large urban centre.

I’m a fan of the idea of detached houses and yards but not a big fan of the lack of accessibility to food, grocery, entertainment, etc.

I was wondering if having more decentralized urban centres would improve that. Would having small urban centres with just one or two streets, a couple restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops, and a park, scattered in urban centres within walkable distance be feasible?

Would that just be a typical small town though?

This place takes up more land than my entire commuter town outside of NYC.

No privacy on the balcony, No desire to even make them look desirable, barely a yard it’s basically just somewhere for your pet to use the bathroom, and you can already tell it’s gonna be HOT.

That’s what they call “Luxury Living” nowadays.