Driving continues to decline as Americans change habits

This is great news. I wish we could have accomplished the same result in far more cooperative fashion.

I ride my bike to work at least 1 day a week, and feel so much better physically, and because I'm saving gas, money, and polluting less.

If only they made a moped with a baby car seat attachment...... I'd be doing it too!

let's keep it up! cleaner air for all!

Public transportation is going to lead to more cases of TB as crowding increases. The country needs to invest in bullet trains like they have in Japan and in the EU. Every way we choose to go from place to place has an opportunity cost associated with it. I work in the ER and have seen more trauma from bicycle accidents since June of this year.

We were kind of late on the whole global warming thing. That's why some people cut down on driving becuase of the condition the worlds facing but most people only think of the prices and they only care about their money... a typical human.

But yeah this is great to hear though!

I have all but stopped driving my car in favor of a 50cc motor scooter. I have a disability that restricts my walking but the options to drive less are there if spoiled Americans are willing to give up some of their luxury for a smarter way to travel.

@stevox

I think-
The driving has decreased more in rural areas and less in the city
because we don't drive much in cities due to the fact that public transport is on every corner and a lot of things are within walking distance too.
Whereas in the country land, everything is sprawled out wide and far with no trains or busing option, so you HAVE to drive.

So if you start out with group C who never drove much to begin with
and group R who drives all the time. It's group R that will feel the most pain from the rising gas prices. And it's group R whose driving will DECREASE MORE as well.

Hope this makes sense...

ha ha! Check out that chick on the bike. She's totally having regrets.

"Damn* I should have just driven my SUV"

let's go ride bikes!

Oil is running out, it will only continue get more expensive. Driving less does not create more oil.

Biofuels do anything and everything that oil does, and are renewable. We can make as much as we want. Biofuels will not run out. Biofuels are made from the cheapest resources you can get, pond scum and dead tree limbs.

Walking, bicycling, scooters, busses, and skateboards are good things and we should do them more for their own reasons, health, convenience, less traffic, more enjoyment of the day/weather whatever-----not becuase we are forced to by high gas prices. Walking is enjoyable if you want to be walking---not if you are forced to be walking.

the increase in gas prices has only increased the price of filling my tank by $10-$15. big deal. that's 3 beers less that i'll drink at the bar.

I ride my bike everywhere and love the exercise.
I'm just waiting for the government / big carmakers to start cracking down on this by starting new bicycle laws, implementing taxes, restricting the amount of bikes being made, require licenses, and i could go on and on.

My point is that when something new (actually old ) takes effect and makes a big enough dent, someone ( big car makers, big oil ) loses out. So they will do something to restrict the advancement of this so that they can continue to make money. They wont settle for a high percentage of drivers. They want the HIGHEST percentage of drivers and will do what it takes to make sure of that.

Way to go USA. Finally a step forward for you!
Hopefully the decline of using cars extensively will carry on, even if petrol becomes any cheaper in the future.

It's been long overdue, I think. Driving a full size work truck as a commuter vehicle in an urban city is the epitome of extravagance. To see such a large number of people following this trend in recent years is reminiscent of the fall of Rome and the like.

Let's see, eat or buy gas?

Maybe auto-races will be shortened. Imagine seeing the Indy 50, or the Daytona 5.

Bikes Rule, Cars Drool !!!

Maybe soon I won't have to feel bad for being too broke to afford a car! Oh yeah, and the environment'll be better, too.

Continue to engage in a concerning
fashion. Ultimately good things arise.

We have to assume responsibility for all that it takes to achieve harmony.

Thank You! for your input and support of
imperative media.

Ride on!

Pedal Power has much to do with it.

It's about time we rethink our actions!

i am riding my bike 7 days a week and trying to sell my car, i am accepting offers people. toyota truck anyone? i feel way better and love the extra cash in my pocket.i was spending up to 600 a month before. now an inner tube here and there maybe $12 a month.

Yes in Atlanta I use the Xpress charter for $20 dollars it gives me 20 rides on the charter bus to work and if I miss the last ride at 8:00am I scoot myself over to the Marta rail and ride the train with my Breeze pas unlimited riding on the bus or train for $60 or 80 bucks a month so instead of spending about $325 - 400 bucks a month on gas. I spend $100. More money for my food and bills.

I see nothing bad about this. In fact it was a long time coming as far as I am concerned.

I see more people riding bikes everyday

i have definitely cut down on my driving

If anyone remembers the so called "gas shortage" then perhaps we should reverse that equation...and boycott gasoline. That would be an incredibly wonderful experience. Exactly how much money do these oil company thieves and the Arabs need?

Yes, this is a free country and I love it...but...Why in a country where we have so much bad caused by excessive speed, do we still make cars that travel so much faster than the limits? One little chip in even the smallest most efficient vehicles and >>>BOOM

I used to ride my motorcycle to work (~10 mi) but a few weeks ago I opted for pedal power. Now, three weeks in, it only takes me 10 mins longer to get to work than before.

I've stopped driving my car entirely and I'm thinking of selling it. On the rare occasion that I need a car, I can use ZipCar. It's super convenient and I really hope they, and other car sharing programs, start expanding much more rapidly. Bike sharing programs are great too, and I hope to see more of those as well.

I've noticed more motorcycles and scooters by far this summer, it's funny and you have to be a careful but I've seen some older people weaving down the road, you could tell they were determined to ride this new scooter thing, fall off or not.

This makes sense, most of the people I know have been thinking ahead before they go out. They plan the shortest route from one place to another and do one big day of errends instead of going out when you think of something.

Hooray progress!

I work from home, my girlfriend lives less than a mile from home, and we're selling her car because it gets crappy millage.

We're moving to scooters.

hooray!

is it the envviormental issues? rising gas prices? or both?

Good Job, The Arab nations may need to start looking for a new line of work.

I am definitely part of this statistic. I used to drive 20 miles work, but now I walk a mile to a bus stop.

American culture and lifestyle seem to be intrinsically associated with the 'freedom' of owning and driving a car, so this story came as a surprise to me! Great news though!

nice. hey that rider looks in pain. LOL
- pedal power!!!

This will also result in far fewer deaths due to road accidents, and far fewer cases of road rage.

It is interesting they it dropped more in the rural areas more than the city. They are no other transportation options out here. I guess people are thinking twice before leaving there homes.

this is good news.

Yes! I cannot walk far because of ill health yet I try to restrict how much I drive and I combine trips with my sister so we run errands together.