No Car? No Problem in Washington, D.C.

Drawing on 2010 Census data, the Coalition for Smarter Growth highlights the prevalence of alternative transportation in the nation's capital.

1 minute read

February 22, 2012, 6:00 AM PST

By Ryan Lue


Nearly half of all households in three of D.C.'s eight wards do not own a car, according to recent census data compiled by the Coalition for Smarter Growth.

As David Alpert reports, low rates of car ownership in the capital are not limited to low-income neighborhoods: the second-lowest figure (just 54% of households owning a vehicle) belongs to a "wealthy part of the city."

Alpert suggests that reduced car ownership benefits everyone – by encouraging the growth of alternatives for those who don't drive and cutting down traffic for those who do. "Therefore," he writes, "we should all look for policies that help these numbers grow."

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 in Greater Greater Washington

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