Vocabulary bank.

City life

urban sprawl urban wasteland

gridlock no-go areas
affluent suburb
be steeped in sth run-down buildings
on the outskirts deprived areas
combat traffic congestion bumper-to-bumper traffic all day long
commuter belt the volume of traffic
leafy suburb exhaust fumes
winding streets the incessant roar of trucks and buses
shanty town (very loud noise)
busker boarded up shops
bustling chain stores
change pace to close down
go the pace
fashionable boutiques
in the back of beyond
urban decay to get around
hail a taxi high-rise flats
hit the high spots inner-city
in the suburbs pavement cafe
lively bars/restaurants residential area
local facilities run down
multi-story car parks shopping malls
office block sprawling city
out of town shopping centre/retail park upmarket shops