Automobiles dominate America.
About 92% of U.S. households have entry to a automobile. However solely about 55% of Individuals have entry to public transit. And solely about 3.5% benefit from the choices out there.
The common American drives twice as a lot as the common German, stated Peter Norton, a professor on the College of Virginia. The most typical rationalization for that is that Individuals simply love automobiles — and driving, Norton stated. Individuals love the independence, the open highway. Automobiles are freedom.
However that is a little bit of a fantasy.
“My cautious research of this historical past over a few many years now persuades me that the historic document reveals that automobile domination was not the favored choice,” Norton stated. “It was not voted for by democratic processes. It wasn’t even the end result, as lots of people will attempt to declare, of free enterprise simply doing its factor.”
To make certain, the scale of the U.S., its comparatively low density, its wealth, its inexpensive suburbs, and — to be truthful — the attraction of the car, are all key elements.
However insurance policies and lobbies have performed an outsized function within the shift of accessible transportation choices towards automobiles, stated College of Iowa regulation professor Greg Shill. They proceed to. That issues for many who wish to construct communities round alternate options, akin to higher-density residing, walkable or cyclable neighborhoods, or low-cost and handy public transit.