More Americans than you think are open to the idea

By: Jim Wylie (SPG Conservation Chair) (contact Jim)

If you haven’t discovered The War On Cars Podcast, please check it out. Next time you are taking a walk, driving, or on the train, plug this episode into your ears:

War On Cars: America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free - 45 minutes

Here are some highlights of the interview with Nicole Corcoran, Deborah Salon, and Hue-Tam Jamme, researchers at the Arizona State University School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning in Tempe.

• 20% of Americans have a desire to live car-free: suburban or urban areas (and don’t already live car-free) were included in survey.
  • And another 20% are open to the idea. And the demographics are very diverse.
• Early Exposure to public transportation - A significant portion of those who responded positively to the idea were exposed to some form of public transit growing up - bus, train, trolley, etc.
  • So take your grandchildren on a train ride !!
• Barriers - The biggest deterrent to living car-free is a lack of affordable housing in areas that have the infrastructure to support a car-free lifestyle.
  • One of the major impediments to communities opting to reduce the number of cars on their streets is state or local zoning laws that require a certain number of parking spaces for every house or apartment that is built. Reinforcing the social structure of car dependence. [Many PA municipalities require minimum parking. There is no statewide regulation, although there is an active memo from Rep Greg Scott that proposes a prohibition on parking minimums set by municipalities]

One of the incentives for embarking on this survey was that the researchers became aware of a new community proposal in suburban Phoenix called Culdesac, which is being specifically designed for car-free living from the ground up. One of the highlights from the Culdesac website:

We've partnered with the world's leading mobility companies to bring you the most affordable and convenient ways to get around town. As a resident, you'll receive unlimited free rides on the metro, free & discounted rideshare and ridehail, as well as Bird scooters just a moment away.

Wow. What could a town with no cars feel like? No exhaust fumes. No 2-ton vehicles competing for space where humans are walking, biking and scooting. Significantly less carbon emissions. Less noise and air pollution. No car payments or car insurance. Plus, more community building and socialization through shared experiences on public transit and ride-share. Talk about a win-win!

We can also look at the idea of a “car-free community” as an aspirational goal and consider each aspect when we have opportunities to influence how our own townships, boroughs and cities are constructed and what direction they are headed. Do we prioritize walkability over driveability? Do we welcome, even encourage, core businesses like grocery and drug stores in our community’s center? Do we enable residents to even consider owning fewer cars per family by providing adequate transit stops, spaces for car-share or bike/scooter-share services, consider exceptions for the 2 parking spaces per residence rule for new construction?

I volunteer on the West Chester Borough Transportation Advisory Committee. Perhaps there is a similar volunteer committee where you live. Stop in or zoom in to your next council or supervisors meeting and learn what they are talking about. Make a suggestion. Let them know how you feel about the possibility of living car-free.

—-----------------------------------------
Want to learn and discuss other cool things about transportation? Join the PA Chapter Transportation Team.