Wings Over Iraq

theatlantic:

Young Americans Aren’t the Only Ones Driving Much Less Than Their Parents

In April, Richard Florida reported a trend away from automobile use among young Americans. The news holds particular significance for the United States — where for decades cars have been “a symbol of freedom of independence,” as Florida writes — but that doesn’t mean it’s particularly unique. On the contrary, new research suggests that the real story here isn’t about one country’s changing tastes but rather a more global generational shift.

In an upcoming issue of the Journal of Transport Geography, a research team led by Tobias Kuhnimhof of the Institute for Mobility Research, in Munich, found a strikingly similar trend away from automobile use among 18- to 29-year-old Germans. The researchers identified two key factors shaping this change: increasing use of public transportation (even among those who own cars), and decreasing driving habits of young men in particular.

Read more at The Atlantic Cities. [Image: Shutterstock]