A groundbreaking study reveals that bold policies aimed at reducing Americans' reliance on driving could not only decarbonize the transportation sector and create healthier, more equitable communities, but also save a staggering $6.2 trillion more than a sole focus on vehicle electrification. This transformative approach holds the key to a sustainable future, empowering individuals and communities alike.

Paving the Way to a Greener, More Accessible Future

Embracing the Freedom to Move

The Union of Concerned Scientists' report, "Freedom to Move," underscores the pivotal role of providing Americans with diverse transportation options as the cornerstone of the climate transition. By implementing "visionary but feasible" changes, such as shifting land use patterns and investing in walking, biking, and transit, the report suggests that the country can achieve the critical net zero milestone.

The report's findings are particularly compelling, as they indicate that by reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by approximately 27% from 2035 to 2050 – a target lower than the VMT reduction goals already in place in California and Washington – the United States could avoid the need to build $201 billion in new energy infrastructure necessary to power the transition to electric vehicles. This not only represents a significant cost savings, but also a more equitable approach that benefits all communities, regardless of their current reliance on personal automobiles.

Moreover, the report highlights the substantial public health and safety benefits of reducing VMT, including $128 billion in avoided costs from tailpipe emissions and fine pollutants, as well as the prevention of 250,000 car crash deaths and 3.7 million crash injuries. Most significantly, U.S. residents would collectively save a staggering $5.9 trillion in avoided car payments, fuel, insurance, and other vehicle-related costs – a testament to the transformative power of this approach.

Overcoming the Grip of Car Culture

The report acknowledges that reducing car dependence will require overcoming a century-long legacy of car culture and the powerful influence of the automotive, fossil fuel, and road-building industries. These industries have long "rigged the rules to constrain our options to only driving fossil-fueled cars," and their lobbying efforts have secured government subsidies for highways that have dwarfed transit spending for generations.

In 2023 alone, these industries spent a whopping $104 million in documented lobbying time and $14 million more in political contributions, successfully opposing a rule that would have required states to report their transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. This coordinated campaign has effectively reframed the use of streets, privileging fast-moving automobiles over other modes of transportation and casting anything that defies this norm as morally wrong.

Dismantling this deeply entrenched car culture will be a steep uphill battle, but the researchers argue that it is a necessary step to achieve true freedom of movement and equitable access to opportunities and resources for all Americans, regardless of their ability to own or operate a private vehicle.

Electrification Alone Falls Short

The report also highlights the limitations of relying solely on vehicle electrification to address the transportation sector's environmental impact. While electrification is a crucial component of the solution, the researchers point out that roughly 30% of U.S. residents do not drive, either due to age, disability, legal restrictions, or financial constraints. Furthermore, the combined costs of housing and transportation are unaffordable for 60% of Americans, with people of color being 14% more likely to be cost-burdened by these basic necessities.

Building the necessary energy infrastructure to electrify the existing car-dependent status quo would be far more expensive and less equitable than the alternative approach proposed in the report. By embracing a multitude of transportation options, the researchers argue that the country can better serve the needs of all its citizens, including those who cannot or choose not to own a private vehicle.

As the Union of Concerned Scientists acknowledges, the scientific community itself has historically contributed to the car-dependent status quo through "antiquated science and modeling." However, the latest research clearly indicates that providing a diverse range of transportation choices is what truly benefits the American people, paving the way for a more sustainable, equitable, and accessible future.