Driving

View of traffic on San Diego freeway.

Opinion: Why Linking Driving to GDP Misses the Point

The argument that car-centric development is good because it boosts national GDP ignores the massive costs of driving to everyday Americans.

November 13, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of traffic in New York City entering Queens Midtown tunnel

Report Highlights Economic Benefits of Reducing Car Dependence

Encouraging Americans to drive less — and supporting cities where it’s possible to do so — could save the country trillions more than just electrifying the transportation sector.

November 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Marathon branded gas station with red, blue, and white color scheme in Providence, Rhode Islad.

Providence Could Ban New Gas Stations

The city could prohibit the construction of new fueling stations within city limits to discourage driving and pave the way for more renewable transportation infrastructure.

October 16, 2024 - The Washington Times

View of traffic on Golden Gate Bridge at sunset.

San Francisco ‘Best-Performing Metro’ for VMT, Traffic Reduction

The city saw a 13 percent drop in miles driven per capita in the last five years.

September 27, 2024 - GovTech

Traffic on a busy city street.

Report: Americans Are Driving More Than Ever

Average vehicle miles driven rose in almost every major metropolitan area between 2019 and 2024.

September 16, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Street with blurred traffic and office buioldings in background in Tucson, Arizona at dusk.

When ‘Prioritizing All Modes’ Is a Lie

In many cases, it’s impossible to prioritize the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users without sacrificing some speed.

September 16, 2024 - Anna Zivarts

Close-up of traffic congestion from behind cars on a freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

States Claim Highway Expansions Reduce Emissions

The argument is being used to channel climate funding to projects that expand automobile infrastructure, according to an analysis from Transportation for America.

August 12, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

View of cars stuck in gridlocked traffic with traffic lights in background

Report: Americans Must Reduce Driving to Meet Climate Goals

A USDOT report calls for a set of strategies including but not limited to electrification of the transportation sector.

August 2, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and green city bus blurred in transit on New York City street.

Planning for Equity in an Ideologically Conservative Community

To support equity goals, planners must accommodate diverse ideological perspectives, including political environments that focus on functional fairness rather than demographic categories.

July 22, 2024 - Todd Litman

Close-up of hand holding EV charger charging car with brick three-story house in background.

The Case for EVs in Rural Areas

Many rural households could benefit from the cost savings of electric cars for everyday trips.

July 11, 2024 - CleanTechnica

Traffic light with blurred cars and streetcar in background.

Applying the New Traffic Safety Paradigm

The new traffic safety paradigm recognizes exposure — total vehicle travel — as a risk factor, and therefore the additional casualties caused by planning decisions that induce more driving, and the safety benefits of VMT reductions.

July 5, 2024 - Todd Litman

Close-up of person with vision impairment wearing jeans and white sneakers crossing yellow and white striped crosswalk with cane.

Being a Non-Driver in a Car-Dependent World

A third or more of Americans cannot drive due to their age, ability, or other factors. How can their travel needs inform our transportation systems?

May 23, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Low shot of side of subway or commuter train and passengers walking on platform next to it.

Study: Half of Global Commutes Made by Car; Rates Vary Widely

The United States is conspicuously consistent in its high rates of car usage, a new analysis finds.

March 19, 2024 - Phys.org

Overhead view of multilane elevated highway with multiple levels.

The Harms of a Car-Centric World

While most of the world’s population doesn’t drive, cars have an outsized negative impact on public health, the environment, and land use.

March 7, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

View of rush hour traffic on Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour.

FHWA: Driving on US Roads at All-Time High

The end of some remote work policies and lower gas prices led to a rise in driving last year.

February 12, 2024 - Spectrum News 1

Small grey sedan charging at outdoor electric car charging station with green kiosk and green forest in background in Norway.

Norway’s EV Boom Could Entrench Car Dependency

The Scandinavian country is a pioneer when it comes to EV adoption, but there are downsides.

November 2, 2023 - Vox

Close-up of HYBRID logo on back of black car.

Hybrids Regain in Popularity Amid EV Cost and and Charging Concerns

After their sales dropped thanks to the introduction of all-electric vehicles, hybrid gas-electric cars are seeing a renaissance among consumers.

October 8, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Fast paced scene with people bike and cars at the busy intersection of 14th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City.

When it Comes to Transportation, It’s All About Options

Debunking the notion of the personal automobile as liberator.

September 21, 2023 - Strong Towns

Intersection on Manhattan street with yellow cabs and black cars waiting for stoplight.

The Urbanist Case Against Congestion Pricing

And why it is wrong.

July 18, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Miami Traffic Jam

The Cost of Driving Increasingly Out of Reach in the U.S.

New research stresses the importance of socioeconomic differences in U.S. transportation trends.

March 27, 2023 - Salon

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.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.