Several cities located in the Northeast, especially in the New York region, saw a significant increase in the number of car-free households.
Although car ownership is increasing as the economy improves following the Great Recession (that is, fewer American households are car-free), there are exceptions to that trend to be found in a surprising kind of place—the country's medium-sized cities.
"Several mid-sized cities recorded notable increases in shares of car-free households when averages from the 2015 and 2016 American Community Surveys are compared with those for 2009 and 2010," according to an article by Mike Maciag.
The list of medium-sized cities with an increasing number of car-free households include:
- Paterson, New Jersey
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Davenport, Iowa
- Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Peoria, Illinois
The article includes additional data about car-free households, along with some helpful infographics to presenting the trends in visual form.
Read the full story: America Still Loves Cars, But Some Cities Are Starting to Ditch Them
Where and How People Live Without Cars
The USA Today takes a closer look at data from the recent “Has Motorization in the U.S. Peaked?” report by Michael Sivak for the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Rise in Car-Free Households Supports "Peak Car" Arguments
After peaking in 2007, new research shows that the rate of vehicle ownership in the U.S. took a dive over the next five years. Researchers argue the growth in car-free households suggests the country has surpassed peak motorization.
US Census Starts Using Postal Workers as Census Takers
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A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
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Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
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