Thanks to technology-enabled ride-hailing services, more households have the ability to go car-lite now than in preceding generations, according to a new study prepared for the American Public Transportation Association.
"At a press conference announcing a new study about mobility in American cities on March 15, Lyft’s director of transportation described her company and competitor Uber as 'allies'," writes Katy Steinmetz, chief of Time Magazine's San Francisco Bureau. What was more remarkable that the two competitors calling themselves allies, though, was that 39-page study [PDF] was prepared not for the ride-hailing industry but for the American Public Transit Association (APTA).
"Using Uber and Lyft is a gateway to a car-lite lifestyle, with users owning fewer cars in a household, according to the study," according to APTA's press release.
Now, I was unaware that "car-lite" (not "car-light") is a well-established term in transportation terminology. "We can make better cities by increasing the size and number of neighborhoods in which it's possible for the average person to live partially—not completely—car free," writes Daniel Herriges of Strong Towns. "There's a lot of value in living a car-lite lifestyle, and that's something available right now to many times more Americans than can currently, realistically, go car-free."
APTA "analyzed the usage of personal cars, public transit and other 'shared modes'—such as bikesharing, carsharing and the use of ride apps such as Uber and Lyft—in seven major cities: Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., " writes Steinmetz.
"This study was conducted by the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), with funding provided through the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). The study "suggests public transit and ridesourcing services such as Uber and Lyft are largely complementary, with each serving different trip types but working together to enhance urban mobility and decrease reliance on private autos," notes SUMC's press release
About SUMC: "The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) is a public-interest organization working to foster collaboration in shared mobility (including bikesharing, carsharing, ridesharing and more) and help connect the growing industry with transit agencies, cities and communities across the nation...."
FULL STORY: Time: Lyft and Uber Are ‘Allies’ in the Transit Revolution
There Goes the Neighborhood? The Trickle-Down Effect of High Ride-Hailing Prices
Low-cost Uber and Lyft services helped some neighborhoods thrive, making them more accessible. Now these same neighborhoods are feeling the pinch as high ride-hailing costs push customers to stay closer to home.
Study: Ride-Sharing Increases Urban Congestion
New research shows that ride sharing contributes to increased congestion and decreased transit ridership.
New Research Connects Land Use to Ride-Hailing Trips
Many of the places in Chicago generating the most ride-hailing trips with services like Uber and Lyft are accessible by transit, according to new research.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
Fair Housing Cannot Take a Back Seat to ‘Build, Baby, Build’
If we overlook fair housing principles in the plan to build US housing back better, we risk ending up right back where we started.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient
A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
