For four months last fall, my lifestyle changed dramatically when my husband and I lived car-free. As life-long suburbanites, we have always driven a lot to get around. I was the mom-in-the-minivan, and am now the professional-in-a-Prius. But when we took an overdue sabbatical, we lived near universities in three developed countries — England, Germany, and Japan — where everything we needed was within easy reach by foot, bike, bus, or train.
Posts Tagged ‘VMT’
Opinion: Car-Free Inspiration From an Overseas Adventure
Monday, May 1st, 2023Opportunity to Participate in a Pilot Program to Track Vehicle Miles Traveled in New Jersey
Tuesday, July 19th, 2022Did you know that a fuel tax you pay at the pump is largely responsible for funding a well-functioning transportation system that gets you to where you need to go, delivers packages to your door, and keeps groceries on the shelves?
We Need a Better Way of Measuring How Much People Drive—And Why
Monday, May 23rd, 2022People driving cars and trucks from one place to another is not only a big contributor to New Jersey’s carbon footprint, but also leads to many hours wasted behind the wheel and many dollars spent to build and maintain the state’s road network. In New Jersey, the average licensed driver drives about 33 miles a day. While transportation planners and the general public are aware that daily life involves a lot of driving, the reasons for all this vehicular travel are less widely understood. A better way of measuring vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) might provide some insight into the problem—and what to do about it.
NJ’s Transportation Capital Plan: Focus on Fix-It-First, Transit, Pedestrian Safety; Transit Villages Slashed
Monday, March 28th, 2011Though there will always be disagreements over the specific list of projects funded, when it comes to larger policy direction, New Jersey’s 2012 Transportation Capital Plan is by and large one that advocates of sustainable transportation can feel good about. The plan places heavy emphasis on “fix-it-first,” particularly bridge repair and road resurfacing, over capacity expansion; […]
Pete Kasabach Discussing Transit-Oriented Development in Jersey City
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach was featured in a recent video by Streetsfilms focused on transit-oriented development in Jersey City. The video is the first in their MBA: Moving Beyond the Automobile series, and also features friends of New Jersey Future Kate Slevin (Tri-State Transportation Campaign), Vivian Baker (NJ Transit) and Bob Cotter (Jersey […]
DEP Announces New Initiative to Combat Transportation Emissions
Friday, June 18th, 2010Source: georgetownclimate.org
Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced yesterday that New Jersey is joining 10 other states and the District of Columbia to form the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), “a regional group that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transportation improvements and efficiencies.”
Curtailing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation will be essential if New […]
Celebrate Earth Day on Two Wheels … or Two Feet
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010New Jersey ranks third to last in per-capita spending of federal transportation dollars on bicycle and pedestrian projects, according to the T4America campaign.
Should we be happy or sad about fewer people on the road?
Monday, January 11th, 2010photo by author
A couple of news items over the last few days have combined to serve as a good reminder that owning and driving a car is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Driving (at least non-recreational travel) is what economists call a “derived good” – something people consume not because […]
