The United States, characterized by vast expressways, extensive suburbs, and underfunded public transportation networks, ranks among the nations with the highest reliance on automobiles globally. However, recent studies reveal that this necessity for driving is causing significant dissatisfaction amongst numerous Americans.
The automobile has solidly established itself as the primary, and frequently the sole, means of transportation for most Americans. with more than Nine out of ten homes possess at least one car, with 87% of individuals driving their automobiles every day. In the previous year, there was a peak of 290 million vehicles. were operated On American roads and freeways.
Nevertheless, this heavy reliance on cars is diminishing the well-being of Americans, as revealed by a recent study indicating that there’s a threshold beyond which increased driving contributes to greater dissatisfaction. The research shows that owning a vehicle remains preferable to lacking one when considering general contentment; however, being required to drive over half the time for external engagements correlates with reduced happiness levels.
"Car dependence exhibits a threshold effect—relying on a vehicle occasionally boosts life satisfaction, whereas having to drive significantly more often leads individuals to report decreased levels of happiness," stated Rababe Saadaoui, an urban planning specialist from Arizona State University and principal investigator of the study. the study Severe reliance on cars entails expenses such that the drawbacks end up surpassing the advantages.
Related: 'People Are Happier in Walkable Neighborhoods': The American Community That Prohibited Cars
The latest study, carried out through a poll involving a cross-section of Americans nationwide, examined individuals' answers regarding their driving behaviors and overall happiness levels. It aimed to uncover correlations between these aspects using a statistical method that also considered various factors contributing to general well-being like financial status, familial circumstances, ethnic background, and physical ability.
Saadaoui mentioned that the outcomes were "unexpected," potentially due to several adverse effects associated with driving, including the constant pressure of managing routes and traffic, the decline in physical exercise because of limited walking, decreased social interaction, and the increasing economic strain of possessing and upkeep a car.
Some individuals log a significant amount of mileage and remain unfazed, whereas others find it genuinely burdensome," she explained. "This research does not advocate for an outright cessation of car usage; rather, it suggests striking a balance. Driving often becomes unavoidable for numerous people, which makes expanding alternatives crucial.
For decades, numerous federal and state initiatives have resulted in an elaborate network of highways across the U.S., often slicing through urban centers. This has led to the fragmentation of neighborhoods and increased traffic jams and air pollution for local inhabitants, disproportionately affecting people of color living in these areas.
Planning policies and mandatory car parking construction have promoted urban spread, strip malls designed with more room for vehicles than pedestrians and the degradation of communal spaces third places where Americans can gather. Consequently, even brief trips outside the house necessitate a vehicle, with half of every car trip lasting less than three miles .
Many of these decisions occur at the state level; however, President Joe Biden’s administration has pledged support for restoring public transportation systems that have been struggling due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. remove specific segregating roadways Nevertheless, the federal government has kept pouring far more money into constructing and enlarging roadways rather than exploring any alternatives to driving. In the coming year, over $60 billion in federal funds will be allocated for this purpose. planned for roads and bridges.
A tiny fraction of Americans voluntarily opt out of owning cars as they manage to reside in the limited number of pedestrian-friendly areas across the country. However, for the majority who do not own a vehicle, this absence often stems from economic hardship or disabilities rather than choice.
Lacking a car can prove costly and lonely, says Anna Zivarts, who was born with a neurological disorder that impairs her ability to drive. Based in Seattle, she authored the book. When Driving Isn't Possible And speaks up for those who can't drive.
"Seattle boasts a reliable bus network; however, most people who can manage to buy a vehicle do so. Often, at various events, I am the sole parent attending without a car. It seems like everything is designed with automobiles in mind," she commented.
We find ourselves trapped in a driving culture designed to be more pleasurable, though it often fails to deliver. I stroll for five minutes with my child to meet the school bus, whereas some parents drive their cars for that same short distance. Does this truly represent how you wish to live your life?
Zivarts stated that achieving walkable communities and enhancing public transportation and bike facilities will take time, but taking action now could start with acknowledging the presence of individuals who do not own vehicles.
We must include the perspectives of individuals who cannot drive — such as disabled persons, senior citizens, newcomers, and low-income residents — in these discussions because the decision-makers all use cars," she stated. "They lack an understanding of how someone might need to dedicate two hours for a bus ride.
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