It’s no surprise to learn that people are buying fewer cars these days than they have in years. An article in the Sunday New York Times by Micheline Maynard explores why exactly that is, and it’s pretty encouraging. While the expected reasons rise to the top of the pile, like the awful economy and a turn toward the green side of transportation, there are more nuanced reasons in there.
What Ms. Maynard found, in a nutshell:
- One woman would rather spend her limited funds on health insurance than a car, insurance, and parking
- Empty-nesters are moving from suburbs to cities and shedding cars as they go
- Personal transportation like the P.U.M.A. may gain traction among carless commuters
- And, of course, people have switched to bikes and public transportation for environmental reasons
The article explores the major shift away from car purchases as an emotional, status-based purchase. Have you given up your car? Are you car sharing? Car pooling? Riding a bike, like 8% of Portland, Oregon, commuters? Do you feel like you have to have a car, given your commute or family situation? Tell us your experience in the comments.
