We’ve talked about this phenomenon before, but last week, while I was busy with other distractions (like the City budget), the Frontier Group released a report documenting the trends. Sightline has already done a thorough story, so I’ll direct you there.
3 responses to “Young People Driving Less”
I’m in that age cohort, and most people I know don’t have cars. We simply can’t afford to drive. It’s too expensive, our wages are ridiculously low, our employment (if we have it, which many don’t) too unreliable (something many of us have been told as kids for years from adults to expect from now on, as the days of working for one company for life are *LONG* over), and you have a recipe for not getting a car if you can absolutely help it. Most of us don’t really have anything against a car, but when you’re pinching pennies, a car is a big ticket item that can be sacrificed if you live in a city. There are even those among us who do have cars and like them but would like to be able to do without them but cannot for lack of feasible alternatives. Frankly, the report does not surprise me at all.
I truly believe if public transportation where much better than it is, I think many more would elect to use it instead of cars to save money, and more still would elect to use it for some trips. If good alternatives are offered, people are more likely to use them, and in times like these, saving a few thousand a year is nothing to sneeze at.
I’m 29, and absolutely HATE driving. Its a complete waste of time, and I’d rather be on a MAX reading or being online than wasting time driving.
I live in Woodburn, so I have to own a car as there is no public transit out of town (I do live very close to work and bike there). If there is ever reliable transit from Marion County to downtown PDX, my car is gone.
[Moderator: Own post accidentally posted in wrong thread removed–ES]