Peak Car

Cyclists in bike lane with red streetcar in background on urban street.

Peak Car? Check Your Data

There is evidence that automobile travel is peaking while demand for non-auto modes is growing, but double-check your data sources to be sure.

January 1, 2024 - Bad Data: Not a Decline in Travel

A speedometer showing Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers

Generation Z Is Driving Less, But History Indicates It Won’t Last

Think Generation Z will usher in the long-awaited post-car future of transit advocates’ dreams? Think again (about the example set by the Millennials).

March 2, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Commuter Traffic

Gas Prices and Vehicle Miles Traveled Analyzed Since 2000

Urban economist Joe Cortright examines the connection between gas prices and driving in the U.S. over the last two decades. Prices matter: increased gas prices results in decreased driving, providing the prices persist for the long-term.

March 4, 2019 - CityLab

Cars

Learning from the National Household Travel Survey

The Federal Highway Administration's National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) shows that transit use is rising and household vehicle miles traveled are declining—but other data sources paint a more ambiguous picture.

January 22, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

Traffic

Peak Motorization: Measuring Rates of Auto Ownership and Distances Driven

Passenger vehicle ownership and vehicle miles traveled per person and per household remain below their historic peaks set in 2006 and 2004, respectively, but they have been on the upswing for the past four to five years, according to new data.

February 11, 2018 - University Of Michigan

Los Angeles Traffic - The Newhall Pass

April FHWA Report Shows Americans Continue to Drive More

There is good news in the most recent Federal Highway Administration Travel Trends report—if you look hard enough.

June 25, 2017 - AASHTO Journal

Suburban House

Millennials Leading a Decline in Car Ownership in Some U.S. Cities

The young and the recently arrived in Seattle are less and less likely to own a car, according to new Seattle Times analysis of Census data.

May 13, 2017 - The Seattle Times

Traffic

2016 Sets New U.S. Driving Record as Gas Prices Remain Low

So much for the 2015 record of 3.148 trillion miles. Last year saw a cumulative travel increase of 2.8 percent to 3.218 trillion miles, setting a new record as cheap gas contributed to increased driving.

February 22, 2017 - E&E News

Gas Pump

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Might Decline Despite Love Affair with SUVs

Gasoline consumption in the U.S. peaked in 2007, but began climbing in late 2014 with the decline in gas prices. Last year almost set a new record, but increases in gas prices, fuel efficiency and more EVs could reverse the direction—but when?

January 24, 2017 - Oil Price

Nighttime Traffic

Peak Car Revisited

U.S. vehicle travel increased 3.2% (8.6 billion vehicle miles) in total and 2.0% per capita between Junes 2015 and 2016. That is a new peak in total VMT, but a 2.75% reduction in per capita VMT. Will these growth rates continue into the future?

August 27, 2016 - Peak Car Revisited

Vancouver transit

Three Urban Transportation Experts Discuss Post 'Peak Car' Urban Planning

Emily Badger, Washington Post Journalist; Peter Newman, sustainability author and professor in Perth; and Robert Puentes of Eno Center discuss the changes in transportation planning now that car trips are on the wane in urban centers.

August 13, 2016 - The Diane Rehm Show

Highest Gas Prices are Lowest in 11 years

Yes, gas prices are both lowest and highest. When compared to past Memorial Day weekends, it's the lowest since 2005, and by no coincidence the highest amount of travelers will take to the roads since the same year. Guess what that is doing to VMT?

May 30, 2016 - Daily Fuel Gauge Report (AAA)

More Than One Way to Gauge How Much Americans are Driving

Last year the U.S. Department of Transportation reported an increase of 3.3 percent in miles-traveled. During that same period, use of toll facilities, i.e., where motorists elect to pay to drive, increased 7.7 percent according to a new analysis.

April 11, 2016 - USA Today

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Up, Oil Production Down

Gas prices are on the rise, though they will remain well below 2014 levels through this year. U.S. oil production dropped by 600,000 barrels from last year, while gas consumption is on track to break the 2007 record thanks to cheap gas and more SUVs.

March 28, 2016 - The New York Times

Driving

So Much for Peak VMT

Many observers and planners had hoped 2007 was the peak of vehicle miles travelled in the United States. After record-breaking increases in driving and auto sales, what are we to make of the present and future of driving in the United States?

March 8, 2016 - Steven Polzin

2015 Sets New Record for Vehicle Miles Traveled

2007 had set the prior record, which sparked the term, "peak miles driven" or "peak car." Historically low gas prices and an improved economy have fueled more driving, resulting in a record of 3.148 trillion miles driven last year.

March 2, 2016 - Federal Highway Administration

From Taxi Industry Disrupter to Auto Industry Disrupter

Car ownership is far from "a thing of the past," as Uber's CEO plans on making it, but a new survey shows that a substantial number of people who have tried transportation network companies are forgoing the purchase of a car.

October 8, 2015 - Los Angeles Times - Technology Now

Traffic Jam 1970s

If Congestion Is Getting Worse, Why Are We Spending Less Time Traveling?

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute released its eighth report on peak motorization in the U.S., an evaluation of time spent traveling for a broad category of purposes, not just work. From 2004 to 2014, total time decreased.

September 2, 2015 - The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Bay Area Leads the Nation in Reducing Solo Commuters

According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey on commuting to work, one subregion in the Bay Area can claim accolades for having achieved the largest drop in solo-commuting from 2006, scoring the third lowest drive-alone rate in 2013.

August 17, 2015 - The Sacramento Bee - Capitol Alert

Iowa DOT Head Predicts Contraction for State's Highway System

When the director of transportation for the state of Iowa admits that the highway system is overbuilt, Charles Marohn asks the question: which of the 49 remaining DOT heads will also speak honestly about their systems?

July 8, 2015 - Strong Towns

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