Land availability determines whether a city grows vertically or spreads out horizontally,and whether it relies on mass transportation or the automobile.

Land availability has a significant impact on a city's growth pattern and transportation infrastructure. If land is readily available, a city may expand horizontally, whereas if it is scarce, the city may grow vertically. This, in turn, affects the transportation system, with sprawling cities relying more heavily on private automobiles and denser cities relying more on mass transportation.