Thursday, December 5, 2013
Another report on drop in driving in DC area
According to several recent studies, young people are waiting longer to get a driving license, and in general people are driving less. The most recent article is in today's Post, D.C. area sees drop in driving in 21st century; nationwide driving has decreased by 7.6 %:
Compiled from federal and state databases, the report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group gives a snapshot of a transportation evolution that may portend where the nation — particularly urban America — is headed.
It is the latest of several recent white papers that cite waning use of the automobile to argue for changes in public policy away from the highway-oriented focus born during the suburban expansion of the 20th century.
“There is a shift away from driving,” said Phineas Baxandall, an analyst at PIRG. “The cities in this report are home to most of America’s population and are engines of the economy. Policy leaders need to wake up and realize the driving boom is over. Instead of expanding new highways, our government leaders should focus on investing in public transit and biking for the future.”
Many of the policy changes the report recommended are already in place in Washington and some of its suburbs. Encouragement of the popular Capital BikeShare program and installation of bike lanes have correlated with a spurt in bike travel.
We've added the emphasis on the text above. That message is very timely as Fairfax County determines how to spend new transportation funds. Among the options being considered are very expensive road widening and interchange projects vs. transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. Even the transit projects focus primarily on parking facilities for cars.It is the latest of several recent white papers that cite waning use of the automobile to argue for changes in public policy away from the highway-oriented focus born during the suburban expansion of the 20th century.
“There is a shift away from driving,” said Phineas Baxandall, an analyst at PIRG. “The cities in this report are home to most of America’s population and are engines of the economy. Policy leaders need to wake up and realize the driving boom is over. Instead of expanding new highways, our government leaders should focus on investing in public transit and biking for the future.”
Many of the policy changes the report recommended are already in place in Washington and some of its suburbs. Encouragement of the popular Capital BikeShare program and installation of bike lanes have correlated with a spurt in bike travel.
References:
- Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving, New York Times.
- We're Buying Fewer Cars, Driving Fewer Miles—and Buying Less Gas, Pacific Standard.
- Has Motorization in the U.S. Peaked? by Michael Sivak
- Has Motorization in the U.S. Peaked? Part 2 Use of Light-Body Vehicles by Michael Sivak
- Has Motorization in the U.S. Peaked? Part 3: Fuel consumed by light-duty vehicles by Michael Sivak
Labels: countywide dialogue on transportation, driving less, youth driving
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