Is driving still the American dream?

By Steve Price

A growing proportion of the population are expressing interest in car-free living. According to a recent survey conducted by the planning and economic departments of Arizona State University, nearly 1 in 5 Americans are interested in car-free living and an additional 40 percent are open to the idea. Considering that 92% of U.S. households have cars, this suggests a big disconnect between needing them and desiring them.

“Americans are locked into a forced marriage, not a love affair, with the automobile,” wrote Peter Norton, historian at the University of Virginia. The ways we have built too many of our cities and streets force Americans into a complete dependency on the car for their mobility, which is why many get defensive if public policy seems to be anti-car. It is perceived by many as an existential threat on their ability to live their lives.

Car manufacturers add bells and whistles to their products and depict driving in ads as a luxurious experience, but the reality of car travel on America’s congested streets and freeways is never shown in the marketing. Making our streets and highways safe for multiple forms of travel, not just cars, will result in Americans taking to the streets by bicycles, scooters, transit, and walking as well as cars.