Nonmotorized Transportation: The Forgotten Modes

Abstract

For the last fifty years, the development of the U.S. transportation system has focused on providing for travel by private motor vehicle. Today, many people have no choice but to use a car for even the shortest trips. This transportation monoculture is the product of very deliberate policies, reflecting the special interests of the agencies and businesses directly connected to transportation. Serious problems are just around the curve, however, as we approach the limits of space, resources, and the carrying capacity of our environment. If we shift our view of transportation from a commodity to a cost, we will adopt different performance objectives, which will help lead us in the development of a more efficient, sustainable transportation system. This new system would feature greater attention to compact land use to make trips shorter and would make it both possible and likely that many people would choose to walk or bicycle.

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References

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