I agree that dense cities are more efficient because of the benefits you listed (except leisure to me can be solace in a random place at least 1.5 km from any loud disturbance, where there is a high chance of a random animal jumping out of the bushes, freeze, and also try to figure out what I am), although some hemispheres are reacting to a routine virus mutation with an abrupt imposition of rule that allows us to observe more specific undertones throughout the dialogues of those who are required to "hold a leash" which opens the channel for Permanent Social Distancing which influences the canvas' of the enlightened city planners of a region that can now adopt a Pandemic-Proof Sprawl Standard (I'm speaking in the format of "Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't" where he sometimes elaborates on how human traversal stains the pristine landscapes he catalogues).

The slime mold spread sequence [1] suggests that this organism operating
"freely as single cells, but can aggregate together to form multicellular reproductive structures" can only "leap" to new resources after it restrains its "exploration" growth. In the video, watch at 1:33 to see this occur, and once this weaker growth detects the resource, it begins to direct growth towards where the "highway link" is made between both resource concentrations. This allows interchange between both spreads, and it does not waste energy on a new path as it consumes the resource.

There is friction in all motion, and tires on asphalt (the most recycled material in the world because bitumen is like solder for aggregate & additives which can be refreshed at new angles or widths according to friction coefficient it is rated for) are to wheeled freight&passenger as bearings and propeller alloy decay would be to airborne travel (ground friction is only encountered during brief touchdown - not constant wear). The small size of the hydrogen/helium atom could occupy an updated resource loop as lifting gas for freight exclusive. Low friction motion vessel without infrastructure requirement between destinations, but corrective thrust to counter high winds for static hovering (large, mobile tower crane) - wear & tear might occur in frame? Hemp fiber of historically woven sails somehow sealed to contain (leak is inevitable, but Those Pesky Low Altitude Hydrogen Leaks become water vapor "in a cloud today and a lake next week") such a small atom is a cheap throwaway material in a supply chain where accidents are mildly expensive and a wildfire hazard for "hosting" territory underneath - but guaranteed safe because all operation is performed remotely (final "Fourth Strike" failsafe would be for onboard computer to have subroutines for known/established "dead zones" safely distanced enough from all known human or wildlife activity where it can ground itself or self destruct [2] because fly-by-wire human control has been severed by equipment error or Carrington Event). Hindenburg (et al) images in gradeschool textbooks instills early association with danger & airships (standardized education describing an era where up-and-coming sci fi authors are just beginning to imagine the future Automaton, and Marconi/Tesla have only recently sent first radio waves).

The low friction automated lifting gas shipping lane could contest conventional freight modes at low altitudes (hydrogen lift capacity reduces with altitude? Long distance kerosene emissions are exhausted >40k feet high where the air is thin and fuel expenditure is low so emissions per mile are drastically reduced - these emissions will eventually "fall" out if stratosphere whereas small hydrogen induced water vapor emission will be light enough to remain and act as greenhouse gas).

Common friction within all modes of travel occurs in the process that generates circular motion.

Since ammonium nitrate is so energy dense at room temperature (as Beirut has recently shown us) and not required to remain under pressure/liquid while in storage, I've wondered if steam generation via controlled release (granule? Oxygen atmosphere/supply required) could be a relatively simple supply loop using conventional, refined technology. But ammonium nitrate is a heavily regulated material (Night Moves), which is why VTOL flying shipping traffic becomes a question of political will (truck drivers are now drone operators with certified complete understanding of the airship). It is the same reason the US does not recycle nuclear waste as France does (Carter Administration eliminating plutonium from power plant supply chain after letting spent nuclear fuel sit in mineral water for 3 years). You can put cameras on a Bridge leading to city Roads and automate HD cameras (or any aperature that can direct a focusing device onto steady line of citizen traffic flow - you cannot make it cheap for the everyman to have unfettered travel without strict accountability. The user giving up all control at any point in flight with no option to override.)

Fordlandia was attempted in the name of rubber - to secure a supply of material guaranteed to erode at a certain rate (70-100k km per set recently?). Zooming into a map of any populated region will show the scattered towns orbiting a dense hub of activity - a portion of the local labor pool must always be available to refresh the guaranteed decay of rubber/bitumen/rock (gas tax).

Roads would still be relevant only where there are expected to be large concentrations of people. This becomes illegal airspace for loud over head flight takeoff/landing vector or silent hovering hydrogen filled blimps (wind turbines that saturate a horizon are are seen by some as an eyesore).

[1] https://youtu.be/GY_uMH8Xpy0

[2] https://youtu.be/pq7BHFuiBdY