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You may love that conversation, but how many Americans are willing to give up their vehicles? In America, the privately owned vehicle isn't just transportation

You may love that conversation, but how many Americans are willing to give up their vehicles? In America, the privately owned vehicle isn't just transportation, it's a status symbol. That's not going to change just because someone crunched some numbers.

toomuchtodo 9y ago
> but how many Americans are willing to give up their vehicles? That's not the question. Can you afford your own car if the cost efficiencies are no longer there because there are so many fewer cars on the road? How many people own their own Cessna versus buying tickets on Southwest? Even with a private pilot license, I would never consider owning a plane myself. Too expensive!
ghgggh5555 9y ago
I have a hard time believing this will be as big an issue as many believe. The biggest reason is generational die off. We're already seeing younger people forgoing even getting a license. Urban population growth is rendering it less valuable. The only cohort that licensing is up is boomers. 55-75 are more likely to have a license than they were a generation ago. Licensed 16 year drivers is way down. Something like half the number are licensed versus a generation ago. Some of it is "blamed" on cost of owning a car. Those that can afford it but don't buy say they just don't need it. Rides are readily available; friends, Uber/Lyft, and pub trans are enough for a lot of folks as urban density increases. I'd post references but this is easily Googled from multiple sources. And I'm on a slow mobile connection right now. Younger folks tend to see cars as noisey, smelly, expensive, and passé already. Not sure that status symbol thesis holds up
- toomuchtodo 9y ago
  > Younger folks tend to see cars as noisey, smelly, expensive, and passé already. Not sure that status symbol thesis holds up That might be some of it, but Millenials on average are also less well off than older cohorts; they simply can't afford a new car, or possibly even a car at all (but might require one; not everyone lives in a metro with good public transit).

toomuchtodo 9y ago

> but how many Americans are willing to give up their vehicles? That's not the question. Can you afford your own car if the cost efficiencies are no longer there because there are so many fewer cars on the road? How many people own their own Cessna versus buying tickets on Southwest? Even with a private pilot license, I would never consider owning a plane myself. Too expensive!

ghgggh5555 9y ago

I have a hard time believing this will be as big an issue as many believe. The biggest reason is generational die off. We're already seeing younger people forgoing even getting a license. Urban population growth is rendering it less valuable. The only cohort that licensing is up is boomers. 55-75 are more likely to have a license than they were a generation ago. Licensed 16 year drivers is way down. Something like half the number are licensed versus a generation ago. Some of it is "blamed" on cost of owning a car. Those that can afford it but don't buy say they just don't need it. Rides are readily available; friends, Uber/Lyft, and pub trans are enough for a lot of folks as urban density increases. I'd post references but this is easily Googled from multiple sources. And I'm on a slow mobile connection right now. Younger folks tend to see cars as noisey, smelly, expensive, and passé already. Not sure that status symbol thesis holds up

toomuchtodo 9y ago
> Younger folks tend to see cars as noisey, smelly, expensive, and passé already. Not sure that status symbol thesis holds up That might be some of it, but Millenials on average are also less well off than older cohorts; they simply can't afford a new car, or possibly even a car at all (but might require one; not everyone lives in a metro with good public transit).