Car ownership, for example, has been dropping since 2006. Such a decline could be expected during an economic downturn but the trend has continued. As of 2011, the average household owned less than two cars. The study’s authors believe this is a temporary down turn and the absolute number of cars will again increase.
Distance traveled in cars, too, is down from 2004. According to the study, the average driver travelled 13,711 miles in 2004 and 12,492 in 2011 — 1,200 fewer miles. This trend is seen whether measuring miles per household, per vehicle, or per person. The study’s authors attribute this partly to an increase in public transportation use and telecommuting, along with other factors such as increases in gas prices and unemployment. The graph below displays some of the information compiled by the authors.
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| Source: The Atlantic |
