Behavioral Shift in the Way We Drive

When "peak car use" is reached, the only way to go is down, claim Australian scholars Peter Newman and Jeff Kenworthy. They say we're already there - between 1995 to 2000, per capita VMT in some major cities around the world decreased.

1 minute read

July 14, 2011, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jeff Jamawat

The Infrastructurist reports, "In Europe, London dropped 1.2 percent, Stockholm 3.7, and Vienna 7.6. In the United States, Atlanta fell 10.1 percent and Houston 15.2; even Los Angeles fell 2 percent."

Newman and Kenworthy outline six factors that influence this trend in June 2011 issue of World Transport, Policy & Practice: (1) one-hour threshold that people are willing to spend on the road each day, aka the Marchetti constant; (2) growth of public transit; (3) reversal of sprawl; (4) aging population; (5) rise of urbanism; and (6) cost of petro.

"Peak car use suggests that we are witnessing the end of building cities around cars at least in the developed world," say the duo.

FULL STORY: 6 Reasons Driving Has Peaked in U.S. Cities

Thursday, July 14, 2011 in The Infrastructurist

Transportation Europe United States VMT

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

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.