What factor significantly influenced residential patterns in urban areas after the establishment of public transport?

The correct answer highlights the pivotal role of accessibility to streetcar lines in shaping residential patterns in urban areas. After the establishment of public transport, particularly streetcars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the accessibility provided by these transportation systems allowed people to live farther away from their workplaces. Streetcar lines made it feasible for residents to commute from suburban areas into the city, thus facilitating the development of neighborhoods that were once too distant or difficult to reach.

This access not only influenced where people chose to live but also spurred urban growth patterns as residential developments began to spread along these transit routes. Consequently, areas served by streetcar lines became more desirable places to live, directly impacting the spatial organization of urban communities. As a result, neighborhoods that were accessible via these transport lines experienced increased migration and population density compared to those that were not.

In contrast, factors like neighborhood zoning laws, availability of parking spaces, and presence of green spaces, while they may have influenced some aspects of urban development, did not have the same immediate and transformative impact on residential patterns as the availability and accessibility of public transport systems did. Streetcars specifically played a crucial role in redefining the geographic and social dynamics of urban living during that era.