Why is urban traffic typically denser than rural traffic?

Urban traffic tends to be denser than rural traffic primarily because urban areas have a higher concentration of vehicles and pedestrians within a smaller geographical space. In cities, there are usually more cars, buses, trucks, and pedestrians per mile due to the high population density and the mix of residential, commercial, and industrial zones.

This density results from various factors, including the presence of public transportation systems that attract more users, numerous businesses that draw in customers, and residential areas located near these amenities. Consequently, the number of vehicles and foot traffic increases, leading to busier roadways than those found in rural areas, where open spaces and lower population density mean fewer cars and pedestrians per mile.

The other options suggest that there are fewer vehicles, better road conditions, or wider roads in urban settings, which do not accurately reflect the realities of urban traffic dynamics. The concentration of various modes of transport in cities is what fundamentally contributes to this increased traffic density.