Trends Suggests the U.S. is Reaching 'Peak Car'

[one...two...tree 2,762]

When Leslie Norrington moved from Arlington, Va., to Adams Morgan in northwest Washington, D.C., a month ago, she brought all of her belongings. But not her car.

"I don't need it. My apartment is just over a mile from my office, so I walk every day," she said. While Norrington, 25, still has her car in Virginia, it likely won't be hers for much longer. "I think I might give it to my parents," she said.

Trends indicate that Norrington, who works in marketing for the nonprofit American Legacy Foundation, is one of many Americans who have recently decided to use their cars less, sell them or not buy one in the first place. Whether motivated by convenience, cost or other phenomena, Americans are driving less and traffic is easing up, a growing number of studies show.

According to the Federal Highway Administration's "2011 Urban Congestion Trends" report, there was a 1.2 percent decline in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) last year compared with 2010. The drop follows years of stagnant growth in vehicle travel following a peak in 2007, before the economic downturn.

"Traffic really is as much a reflection of a given urban environment as it is the health of our economy," said Jim Bak, director of community relations at the transportation research firm INRIX, which found that traffic congestion in the United States fell by 27 percent last year.

"The interesting thing about it is if you're out there and stuck in traffic every day, it's probably a good sign that our economy is humming along," he said. "But when the economy is down, and if you're fortunate enough to have a job, you'll have a little better commute but your retirement fund probably isn't doing so well."

Using government research and data collected electronically from more than 100 million U.S. vehicles, INRIX found that congestion intensity has been steadily declining nearly every month from January 2010 through May 2012.

For Californians, avoiding traffic is a favorite pastime

But it is not as though the roads to the lake house will be empty this Fourth of July week, or thereafter. Indeed, Americans are still driving close to record highs. Commuters on the busiest stretches of highway in Los Angeles, for instance, still spend more than 60 hours in traffic per year.

"I find it's one of my favorite pastimes to try and find out where the traffic is and how to avoid it," said Cristina Romero, a case worker for Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who drives an hour and 20 minutes each day from Pasadena, Calif., to her office in West Hollywood. Once, with no traffic, she completed the trip in 35 minutes.

But Romero admits that while the traffic in Los Angeles is terrible, over the 11 years she's lived in the area, traffic levels have been about the same. "I don't think it's increased, but I don't think it's decreased, either," she said.

Her observation is true for the entire country. Rather than maintain the 50-year legacy of a 2 to 4 percent increase in vehicle travel each year, the annual number of VMT in the United States has stalled and even gone into reverse. The total number of miles driven in the United States today is the same as in 2004.

more...

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=has-us-reached-peak-car-americans-driving-less

[slim 1,525]

Anyone who thinks we're even remotely close to "peak car" has obviously never driven in Moscow. Or Seoul. Or Beijing. Or any number of foreign cities that were designed before the automobile became popular.

[X Factor 1,112]

Yeah try the Philippines. They alternate days on when cars can travel. One day cars' license plates that end with even numbers drive the main roads and the next day cars with odd numbers drive. Very, very congested.

[Dan J 277]

Anyone who thinks we're even remotely close to "peak car" has obviously never driven in Moscow. Or Seoul. Or Beijing. Or any number of foreign cities that were designed before the automobile became popular.

THe article is talking about the US. There are other places in the world where car sales is quite strong.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I live in a Republican governed state. There will be no alternative to the car for decades to come. We'll keep the automobile industry in business.

[Danno 1,228]

Experts predict internet technology will cause a decline in the need for these populated business hubs anyway.

Hate to break it to you Stevo but if you think the suburbs are sprawling now.... you ain't seen nothing.... and there will be pleanty of room for several cars per household.

IN fact if you have noticed, one of the new building trends in housing in the last decade is 3 and 4 car garages.

If we can get Obama out of the way we can light the torch of prosperity and get on with it.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Yeah try the Philippines. They alternate days on when cars can travel. One day cars' license plates that end with even numbers drive the main roads and the next day cars with odd numbers drive. Very, very congested.

I read a bout that. Is that only in Manila ? I have never seen that in Cebu ?

[slim 1,525]

The socialists will never win here. We could have public trans that picked us up at our doorstep at the time we desired and we'd still drive our cars.

Why?

Because it's MINE.

That whole personal liberty and independence thing is a hard egg to crack!

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I live in a Republican governed state. There will be no alternative to the car for decades to come. We'll keep the automobile industry in business.

It do believe it was the Democraps who donated all out tax payer money to save a bloated inefficient GM, that should have been made to compete or go home.

[lostinblue 1,989]

After George Zimmerman is set free american cities will burn in the democratic led race riots. You will not get anyone to move to downtown Detroit or philadelphia for the next 50 years or at least a generation.

[Captain Oates 911]

Experts predict internet technology will cause a decline in the need for these populated business hubs anyway.

Hate to break it to you Stevo but if you think the suburbs are sprawling now.... you ain't seen nothing.... and there will be pleanty of room for several cars per household.

IN fact if you have noticed, one of the new building trends in housing in the last decade is 3 and 4 car garages.

If we can get Obama out of the way we can light the torch of prosperity and get on with it.

Have you ever looked in these garages when they leave the doors open - it's full of junk from walmart and amazon

But I agree that car ownership is not going down

When I am 90% blind I will still drive and lie about it

Heck in England I had my doctor and supermarket and dentist and train station and pub and restaurant and library and computer shop within a 400 yard radius !

In the USA its a 200 mile trip to get a new set of batteries for my wife's 'toy'

[웃 910]

Have you ever looked in these garages when they leave the doors open - it's full of junk from walmart and amazon

But I agree that car ownership is not going down

When I am 90% blind I will still drive and lie about it

Heck in England I had my doctor and supermarket and dentist and train station and pub and restaurant and library and computer shop within a 400 yard radius !

In the USA its a 200 mile trip to get a new set of batteries for my wife's 'toy'

I was watching a show last night that compared two garages.

One was $2.5 million.

The other was $5 million and had a secret doorway that went underground to the indoor shooting range.

Here is the $5 million garage (has its own gas pump and car wash)

But I much preferred the $2.5 million garage. Way nicer IMO! The painting took a team of 6 artists two years to complete...

Edited July 7, 2012 by ☠

[Captain Oates 911]

I was watching a show last night that compared two garages.

One was $2.5 million.

The other was $5 million and had a secret doorway that went underground to the indoor shooting range.

Here is the $5 million garage (has its own gas pump and car wash)

But I much preferred the $2.5 million garage. Way nicer IMO! Tthe painting took a team of 6 artists two years to complete...

I would have thought a famous sportsman would have a garage like that - and have a lap dance room or pit bull fights in it rather than cars

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It do believe it was the Democraps who donated all out tax payer money to save a bloated inefficient GM, that should have been made to compete or go home.

Funny. I thought that the Detroit bail-out was first initiated at the end of 2008. Checked the first TARP vote in the Senate - 33 Republican Senators voted for that $700BN bail-out package that included the first close to 20BN for GM and Chrysler. I believe that it was a GOP President who signed that into law since the current President wasn't in office at the time. But hey, why worry about those pesky facts?

[Póg mo 1,749]

Funny. I thought that the Detroit bail-out was first initiated at the end of 2008. Checked the first TARP vote in the Senate - 33 Republican Senators voted for that $700BN bail-out package that included the first close to 20BN for GM and Chrysler. I believe that it was a GOP President who signed that into law since the current President wasn't in office at the time. But hey, why worry about those pesky facts?

Well he is a "conservative" after all

Edited July 7, 2012 by InKorea