Major widening projects “lock us into decades of infrastructure that doesn’t build the future we want—or doesn’t build the future I want,” Ralph says. Often, she says, that money would be better spent investing in reliable and expansive train networks, better mass transit or safe walking and biking paths.
Topic
Car-less
School Dropoff Is Everything That Sucks About Car Culture
Dr. Kelcie Ralph at Rutgers University found that even when controlling for income, wealth, residential location, family composition, and race, “young adults who were carless as children completed less education, worked for pay less often, experienced more unemployment, and earned less than their matched peers with consistent car access.”
Invisible Rides: How Car-Less Americans Access Cars
Respondents got rides, borrowed cars, and used ride-hail to access grocery trips, social/recreational activities, and medical care. While most interviewees intend to purchase a vehicle in the future, they also desire better transit, suggesting that households without cars do not necessarily prefer car ownership.