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marmar

(76,982 posts)
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 10:04 AM Apr 2013

Americans Are Driving Less


http://www.streetfilms.org/streetfacts-2-americans-are-driving-less/




Streetfacts #2: Americans Are Driving Less
by Clarence Eckerson, Jr. on April 2, 2013 |

http://vimeo.com/57087562


We continue our Streetfacts series by looking at the data on driving in the U.S. Beginning in 2005, per-capita driving has declined every year. That's not a blip, it's now an 8-year trend.

The reason? Neither the state of the economy nor changes in gas prices offer a satisfactory explanation. Social preferences and demographic shifts seem to be playing a role. Young people today are less likely to own a car or have a driver's license than young people several years ago. At the same time, America's growing population of seniors are no longer in their peak driving years.

Whatever the combination of factors, people are riding transit, walking, and bicycling more. Even magazines like Motor Trend are examining the shift away from cars.

The upshot is that we need to start making smart transportation investments that align with the new reality: Americans are driving less.


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Americans Are Driving Less (Original Post) marmar Apr 2013 OP
What's more democratic: Cars for everybody, Ron Green Apr 2013 #1
Choice. cherokeeprogressive Apr 2013 #3
So sayeth the libertarian. kestrel91316 Apr 2013 #5
Was in Phoenix last week and the Central Ave. light rail train was packed BeyondGeography Apr 2013 #2
True for my family frazzled Apr 2013 #4
Rural and retired here. tones fucyes Apr 2013 #6
When Tacoma, Washington inaugurated a downtown streetcar line, Aristus Apr 2013 #7
People want to stay connected to the internet and use their cell phones when they're commuting Yavin4 Apr 2013 #8
 

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)
5. So sayeth the libertarian.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 10:56 AM
Apr 2013

The most democratic choice is the one that gives EVERYONE an actual choice. Currently the poor don't have enough income to have an actual "choice".

Tax the rich until they know what it's like to not have many choices. As it is, they are a pox on society.

BeyondGeography

(39,282 posts)
2. Was in Phoenix last week and the Central Ave. light rail train was packed
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 10:31 AM
Apr 2013

on a Tuesday afternoon. I'm sure the Right calling that a useless boondoggle a few years ago; they probably still are.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
4. True for my family
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 10:41 AM
Apr 2013

On the younger end, neither of my kids (28 and 31) owns a car (my daughter will very occasionally rent a Zip car). And Mr. Frazzled and I moved to a densely urban neighborhood where we mostly walk or take public transportation. Our car is used only for weekend errands and occasional out-of-town trips. We used to put at least 15K miles a year schlepping kids to piano lessons etc. when they were younger, and driving to work. Now we put fewer than 7,500 miles per year on a seven-year-old car.

 

tones fucyes

(48 posts)
6. Rural and retired here.
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 11:08 AM
Apr 2013

In am area with no real public transport. The only transportation I have is a scooter which negates most Doctor appointments due to weather.

I am told I suffer from congenital heart failure but cannot keep the ridiculously expensive appointments to get refills on meds so I have been going without for a year now.

If we spent half as much on public health care as we do on wars things would be much better for many people in this country who have paid taxes their entire lives.

Sorry. Went off on a bit of a tangent there.

Aristus

(66,093 posts)
7. When Tacoma, Washington inaugurated a downtown streetcar line,
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 11:14 AM
Apr 2013

the CW was that it would languish unused for a while, and then be shut down as a tax burden.

A number of years later, the streetcar is always packed, and offers reliable, safe transportation from the bus station and the park-and-ride to all of the major downtown attractions and destinations. The city council is planning an extension of the line projected to start construction in another couple of years.

How we went from a society that had streetcars everywhere to one where they are a seemingly innovative curiosity is a strange story...

Yavin4

(35,356 posts)
8. People want to stay connected to the internet and use their cell phones when they're commuting
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 11:21 AM
Apr 2013

it's really difficult to do that when you are driving.

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