Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Car Dependence

As the Economy Grows and Adds Jobs, Americans Keep Driving Less

Image: ##http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/DOT-Miles-Driven.php## Dshort.com##

Well, there you have it.

Driving is on the decline -- even as the economy grows.

You can see in the above chart, created by analyst Doug Short and brought to our attention by Jonathan Maus at BikePortland, America's shrinking appetite for car travel is outlasting the recession. As the Center for Clean Air Policy pointed out in a 2011 report, the U.S. economy is increasingly "decoupled" from how much Americans drive.

Adjusting for changes in population, the amount of driving on American roads has fallen to 1999 levels. The sustained decline in driving during a period of economic growth is unprecedented in the 41-year period tracked by Short.

Contrast the drop in driving with sunnier employment figures, and it's clear what's going on here isn't due just to job losses and the recession:

Interestingly, the Center for Neighborhood Technology reported last week that households in 29 metro areas have seen transportation costs double since 2000. Americans are responding to higher gas by driving less, and the economy is turning the corner. The galling thing is that even as this structural shift becomes increasingly apparent, the House of Representatives is intent on passing a transportation bill that will essentially compel Americans to drive more by depriving people of other options.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Tuesday’s Headlines Go to the Polls

Transit is on the ballot today in Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville and elsewhere.

November 5, 2024

A Last Look at the Role of Sustainable Transportation in the Race to the White House

Let's take a look back at how the candidates have governed and talked about car culture so far.

November 5, 2024

Tackling Transportation Emissions Requires Focus on Transit

California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard has flown under the radar for a long time, and recently has come under attack. But if California is serious about climate action, we must clean up our fuel supply while also reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

November 4, 2024

DECISION ’24: The Next President Needs a Vision for America’s Transportation Future

No matter who wins the White House, advocates are ready to push for the transportation system we all deserve — starting with these nine principles.

November 4, 2024

Monday’s Headlines Raise Taxes to Cut Emissions

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy took to Bloomberg to share ideas for cutting transportation emissions through the tax code.

November 4, 2024
See all posts