Despite the reality that most Americans live in car-oriented places that make owning a car all but a necessity, car ownership is a huge expense that is out of reach for many.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) estimate that between 13-16% of expenditures for the average American household goes towards transportation costs, and of that over 90% is spent on buying, maintaining, and operating a car, making it one of the largest expenses after housing. Of course, this disproportionately affects those with lower incomes as they need to spend a higher percentage of their income on personal vehicles–which they likely need to get to those very jobs. APTA also estimates that a household can save more than $13,000 per year by living with one less car and switching to public transit or other forms of mobility like walking or biking.
Even with this opportunity for significant cost savings, the reality is that due to car-centric development and a lack of investment in public transportation over many decades, many people require cars to get to the places they need to go day-to-day. The way we have historically chosen to design our cities and towns in the U.S. “forces millions of Americans to pay for something that perhaps they wouldn’t choose to if they actually had an option” (The High Cost of Transportation in the United States). In North Carolina, where many cities rank low in walkability and high in vehicle miles traveled, residents spend an average of 5% of their income on gas, the 4th highest percentage in the country.
For families or individuals in higher income brackets, making a choice to be more environmentally conscious such as purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) can still be a major expense. Even the more affordable models of EVs start just below $30,000; despite tax credits and the lower operating costs over the lifetime of the vehicle, the price of purchase can be prohibitive. Not to mention, the environmental benefits of an EV can be diminished by the extra miles that people in rural or suburban communities often have to travel to access resources and services.
Thus while cost is a major factor, car-oriented land use isn’t just an equity issue based on income. Whether due to age, physical limitations, logistics, or citizenship status, there are many factors that can make it difficult for people to rely on driving to get where they need to go. For example, AARP believes that walkability is an important consideration for older adults to promote health and avoid isolation. The Triangle region is also home to a large number of college students who may not own their own car or can’t have one on campus. It can even be burdensome to families that do own multiple cars if they have to drive their children to school because there isn’t a safe walking route.
Overall, the financial burdens of car ownership and lack of other mobility choices creates a critical equity issue for communities. When considering this alongside the many other ways that prioritizing cars over people can be harmful to our quality of life, it becomes clear why WakeUP supports investment in public transit, pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and strategic land use planning and zoning that promotes a range of mobility options and supports thriving communities.
For more information about the implications of car dependence on financial health and equity, check out the following resources:
Additional resources:
- The impossible paradox of car ownership — Vox
- Week Without Driving — Bike Durham
- Automobile Dependency: An Unequal Burden — Planetizen
- As interest rates, inventory issues keep car costs high, what drivers are doing to make ownership possible — CNBC
- A New Approach to Understanding the Impact of Automobile Ownership on Transportation Equity — Molloy et al. 2023