Car culture kills
In America, the single biggest contributor to the overheating of our planet is cars. The transportation sector, of which upwards of 80% is cars, is responsible for around 29% of all U.S. GHG emissions.
Transportation in America has not been designed to facilitate alternatives to privately owned vehicles, and the negative effects of this go far beyond climate concerns. Car-centric infrastructure is a pervasive issue that also undermines freedom and health.
Having a huge reliance on road networks denies access to society for anyone without a car, further widening the disparity between underprivileged communities and the wealthy. Additionally, neighborhoods and schools located near highways report much higher rates of asthma from pernicious pollutants, which also kill an estimated 350,000 people each year. As Bill Mckibben writes, “car culture is dangerous and inequitable, and anyone who’s traveled to Europe is instantly reminded that you can successfully run a continent with small cars and good trains.”
I’m fortunate enough to be able to walk or bike most places, and while I know there are many people in the Upper Valley who live on top of mountains and therefore can’t do so, it’s still possible for everyone to fight back against car culture: Public transportation is a great option and so are e-bikes. E-bikes are wonderful because not only are they better for the environment, but they’re also healthier and cheaper.
Electric vehicles are part of the solution, as long as we continue to “green the grid” by connecting more renewable energy sources to it. However, EVs alone cannot solve the problem; a 45% decrease in transportation emissions by 2030 would require 65 million more EVs and a 20% per capita decrease in miles driven.
My hope is for everyone to consider taking fewer trips by car each week; maybe combine an errand across town with some exercise – walk or bike to the shops – or hop on the AT to get from Hanover to Lebanon. It’s possible for every one of us to have a positive impact on society and the Earth just by opting to drive less.