Intercity-connectivity

[thiosk 0]

After my last city went bust, I decided to start playing the region map instead of tyring to build each section as a self sufficient thing.  So I have a couple ag communities in small squares, which connect to a larger residential and small commercial community, which in turn is connected to a large scale industrial map.

In this way ive been getting the population up without even having to build powerplants or industry in the city of suburbia. 

The mass transit system is even working well; most everyone uses the bus and trains to get around.

My question though is how far are folks willing to travel to work?  Do the connections only work in adjacent areas, or is a globally designed transit system effective in spreading worker supply and demand over many areas?
 

[Legosim 14]

My sims travel to 2 cities over, i have a highway in a city with nothing in it and there are 800 or so cars and busses traveling inbetween the undeveloped city. I havent seen if they traveled any farther than that. and far as demand, I find its only cities around another city it effects.

[thiosk 0]

Hm, thats somewhat strange.

So if the city two cities over needs agricultural employees, they can make the trip as long as the commute time via highway\train\monorail\bus\car isn't too far... but the actual demand in their home city for agricultural work is not satiated by the agricultural jobs in non-adjacent cities

interesting

[Legosim 14]

true, the demand in the city with no farms will be lower than the one with mostly farms, but some reason farm jobs in SC4 are for low wealth so they may not drive that far and just find another job

[Faded Glory 13]

If you did the same connection, but with an avenue, they would never even think of going that far. So highways and other transport like that are the way to go.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Stupid Sims.

[gio10469 24]

Sims are just as complicated as human beings...never satisfied...lol. With NAM installed, I noticed my sims travel across 2 cities too and with no delay...commute times are short...

[Livin in Sim 83]

Hi, thiosk,

Welcome to Simtropolis.  When working on intra region commuting, one thing to watch out for is the Eternal Commuters Syndrome.  To over simplify, it occurs when transit networks make loops between cities and Sims stay on this loop in ever increasing numbers without going to jobs.  A good explanation of it can be found here, in RippleJet's first post, and a work around.  More info is also in this topic, and this one.

Enjoy the game.

--Liv

[Shlarin 0]

In my region, I only allow commercial offices to develop on my centralmost large (4km x 4km) tile and tax CO at 20% on all other tiles. Even when I develop a new city tile 3 tiles away and play all the cities in between, the CO demand in my central city goes up. So it definitely affects it.. although I'm using Simulator Z in NAM

[Legosim 14]

Originally posted by: ROFLyoshi

Stupid Sims.quote>

[Darth Apple 54]

most of the time(with simulator Z.) I Believe that sims will travel up to 500 or so tiles on a highway thats freely flowing...(not congested on the congestion map...) so you should be OK if you are using highways. without the simulator, they don't even travel half that distance, however.

In my experience, however, it didn't quite work THAT well.but in general, they will travel across a city no a freeway. A poorly known secret is that work zots can ALSO mean that unemployment rates are high, thats something to keep in mind.(its usually the problem.)

I hope that this helps.

[thiosk 0]

Heres another question:

How do airports affect nearby tiles on the region? As I understand it the airport will increase demand in that tile, so all the other regions will benefit from the increased demand next door, but they don't gain direct benefit themselves from the airport, correct?

[Aviator333 0]

From what I've heard, yes

[Francis90b 748]

I have a question that maybe is related to the one in this thread...

How can i avoid the commuter loop problem if i plan to cover several city tiles with a tight road grid and fully develop them?

I've red the articles suggested by Livin In Sim, so i'm quite worried about that...

Thank you

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Originally posted by: blakesterville

most of the time(with simulator Z.) I Believe that sims will travel up to 500 or so tiles on a highway thats freely flowing...(not congested on the congestion map...) so you should be OK if you are using highways. without the simulator, they don't even travel half that distance, however.

In my experience, however, it didn't quite work THAT well.but in general, they will travel across a city no a freeway. A poorly known secret is that work zots can ALSO mean that unemployment rates are high, thats something to keep in mind.(its usually the problem.)

I hope that this helps.

quote>

Use the airport tram. You would have one airport for looks, but the trams would provide the actual benefit in other cities.

[bigthing 35]

i had a wiard one on a medium city tile. They came in one side on a elivated rail train. They then went onto a bus. A subway. A bus. And then a ferry across the border!!

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Well that means your city is well connected!