Millennials Can't Change U.S. Driving Habits Alone

Freemark of The Transport Politic notes that some "hopeful commentators" are banking on today's millennials (those between ages 18 to 34 in 2015) who have shown a greater inclination for transit usage, biking, and living in cities than preceding generations, to realize "a less car-dependent future." But "(t)he basic facts of life on the ground in America—that our country is an automobile-oriented society—remain the case."

Marginal changes in the way a new generation behaves, or even major changes in the way a new generation thinks, cannot overcome the realities of a country where more than three-fourths of jobs are located more than three miles of downtowns and where only one-fourth of homes are in places that their residents refer to as urban.

That is not to say progress has not been made, and yes, millennials have been key to the increase in transit usage in the "top ten transit cities" (see chart at the base of the article). Seattle showed a stunning 58 percent increase from 2005-2014, while the lowest increase was seen in Baltimore, 3 percent.

But the truth is that the dominant reality is actually a move toward more cars. 

The growth in driving, again, should not be a huge surprise. Peoples’ lives are built around the environment in which they live, and that landscape changes slowly. Neighborhoods where it was hard to get around by anything but driving 20 years ago likely have remained that way and will continue to work as such for the next 20 years. Solving' the suburban reliance on cars in any region is impossible when communities are so spread apart and mixed uses are so limited in their availability.

His pessimistic (or realistic) outlook on suburbs should inspire those who are working to bring density increases of any scale and mixed uses to suburbia to increase transit and biking—as their work can really make a difference.

Freemark also points to "(t)he more recent uptick in per-capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) that has occurred since mid-2014, coinciding with a reduction in gas prices," writing that it "has failed to dim this argument among some," referencing a CityCommentary by City Observatory contributor, Joe Cortright.

Cortright asks, "Does the upsurge in driving really signal an end to the millennial abandonment of motoring? Is there a renewed 'love affair' with automobile?"

We would argue no: The cultural explanations of the driving trends have to be read in the context of prices. Millennials coming of age in the era of $4.00 a gallon gas behave very differently than baby boomers who paid 29 cents a gallon.

Recent information on commuting habits of millennials, as well as other age groups can be found under the tag, "American Community Survey."