Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway or the Merritt Parkway in the past, I've felt an invigorating sense of freedom. If my license were to come up for renewal today, the memory and imagery of those trips alone would propel me to the DMV. It seems not everyone in America shares my romanticized notion of what driving is about. According to the Federal Highway Administration, from 2000 to 2010, the percentage of 14 to 34-year-olds without licenses rose from 21% to 26%. Maybe they plan to get their licenses later, or prefer to enjoy the scenery from the backseat.
Even those who drive are doing less of it. The average American in 2011 was driving 6 percent fewer miles per year than in 2004, a trend that appears to be led by young people. Certainly, most of the time, driving is about running errands, going from place A to place B, about filling gas (painful at $4/gallon). It's about maintenance and oil changes. Depending on your age and where you live, it can mean high parking charges, insurance premiums and debt repayment.
If future generations start favoring city-living and rely more and more on public transport, carpooling, biking and walking, it can only be a good thing for the planet. People will save themselves money and the hassles of car ownership. When they do feel that occasional itch, a hybrid convertible from zipcar should do the trick. I'm told there's one right now at Big Sur, waiting for a driver. Just remember to bring your license.
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Even those who drive are doing less of it. The average American in 2011 was driving 6 percent fewer miles per year than in 2004, a trend that appears to be led by young people. Certainly, most of the time, driving is about running errands, going from place A to place B, about filling gas (painful at $4/gallon). It's about maintenance and oil changes. Depending on your age and where you live, it can mean high parking charges, insurance premiums and debt repayment.
If future generations start favoring city-living and rely more and more on public transport, carpooling, biking and walking, it can only be a good thing for the planet. People will save themselves money and the hassles of car ownership. When they do feel that occasional itch, a hybrid convertible from zipcar should do the trick. I'm told there's one right now at Big Sur, waiting for a driver. Just remember to bring your license.
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Sources:
http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/transportation-and-new-generation
http://www.adweek.com/sa-article/young-people-are-driving-less-139569