The U.S. could provide energy efficient cars for all travel by low-income transit riders for less than the cost of transit subsidies.
It would cost less than $10 billion to provide cars for all the transit riders who don't have access to them, compared with annual spending of about $25 billion on transit subsidies. A commercial model for such a program already exists. Around the world, anti-automobile activists have stablished "car-share" networks that allow people to have access to cars without having to own them. For example, "Flex-Car" in Portland provides cars for less than $0.30 per vehicle mile--a rate that includes the car, insurance, service, and fuel. Today, car-sharing is seen as a substitute for car ownership. But its larger market may be to replace public transit systems.
Thanks to Chris Steins
Read the full story: Why Not Just Buy Them Cars?
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City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority