Comments on: Nate Silver: Is American Car Culture on the Skids?

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:00:19 +0000

partly attributable to Americans' shrunken wealth Wouldn't surprise me. Car use increases everywhere that wealth does... look at China for example. There's little reason to believe Americans (of all people) are any different.

By: Charles Komanoff

Charles Komanoff — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:47:55 +0000

My friend and colleague Vince Taylor has posted a critique of Nate (Silver)'s analysis here. Vince's main argument is that the continuing drop in driving -- beyond what traditional models predict on the basis of declining economic activity or employment -- is at least partly attributable to Americans' shrunken wealth. Vince, a PhD economist, is a penetrating thinker with a rich lifetime of practical experience. His critique is worth reading.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:36:14 +0000

I see a generational shift, with younger generations less wedded to to the private motor vehicles. (And given everything else going on in society, they may not be able to afford them either).

Younger people, however, don't control politics, so the federal government will be fighting this all the way.

By: Lee Watkins IV

Lee Watkins IV — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:52:43 +0000

The Portland vs. Detroit example is excellent - and larger than just car-dependence - Portland has jobs and a whole coffee-house culture of bikes and rail developing. Detroit has layoffs and highways to nowhere. Also while Portland has smart growth, Detroit looks like a war zone. I'm going to set Las Vegas aside for now - it's a holiday destination with a lot of talent. Vegas will always re-invent itself.

By: latron

latron — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:31:44 +0000

I very much hope so.