Progress is good but our information ecosystem suggests otherwise. The headline from this Bloomberg article almost sounds like good news: "US Driving and Congestion Rates Are Higher Than Ever: After a reprieve from car traffic in 2020, vehicle miles traveled have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels in almost every metro area." Cities are back! People are traveling downtown again, more than they were pre-pandemic! And that's a bad thing, apparently. The article describes this as "a worrying trend for advocates working to reform transportation, the largest contributor to US carbon emissions". Further, the study that shows this increase "does not give us the data we need to validate whether VMT and VMT per capita is correlated with metropolitan economic growth". This story is only the latest example of how, in a clickbait economy, everything must be framed as bad news. During the pandemic, we talked incessantly about the urban doom loop: no one would come to cities anymore! Businesses would close and property values decline, spurring even less travel, and so on. It seems we avoided that danger! And if people are choosing to come downtown by car, well then, we need to get to work to make them WANT to come by other means: better transit, more bike lanes, the works. But at least now we know they DO want what we're selling, namely urban life! Next week's issue of my newsletter, Changing Lanes (https://lnkd.in/g-wVHyRJ) will be about progress, and why it's important. You might think that's so obvious as to not be worth saying... but articles like this one from Bloomberg help to illustrate why progress needs defenders.
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Congestion cost the US $74 Billion last year from lost time & productivity, up 15%, and an average of 42 hours per person. And that figure doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of costs associated with air pollution & public health, and how car dependency & car-centric infrastructure make our cities less livable, economically vibrant, and affordable. #transportation #urbanmobility https://lnkd.in/gBaqRm3X
NYC Has the World’s Worst Traffic Congestion, Costing $9 Billion
bloomberg.com
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“…only 10 out of the 100 most populous have kept driving below 2019 levels. The Los Angeles metro ranks first, with a 17% decline in average daily VMT over the last five years. [But CONGESTION levels in Los Angeles have not improved over the past five years.] “Other areas among the top five are also in California, including the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura area with a 16% decline [in VMT] and the San Francisco Bay Area with a 13% decline — though the study does not dive into potential reasons for the dips. San Francisco’s urban core — an area that has particularly struggled to recover from the pandemic — also saw a nearly 26% drop in VMT per capita.”
US Driving and Congestion Rates Are Higher Than Ever
bloomberg.com
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Traffic congestion cost the average U.S. driver a whopping $733 in lost time last year, according to the 2023 global traffic scorecard published by intelligent mobility company INRIX. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dTKqaHb4 It's never been clearer that the U.S. needs smarter urban planning and mobility solutions. Otherwise, the ordinary person ends up paying the price! #UrbanMobility #SustainableTransport #UrbanPlanning #SmartCities
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If you feel traffic is getting worse in your area, you're probably right! Should this trend continue, costs to maintain and improve roads will continue growing exponentially. On top of that, if public transit funding isn't secured for agencies across the country by 2026 (end of temporary covid funding) service cuts will only exacerbate the congestion. Metra in Chicago, for example, has recently suggested 40% service cuts. #Transporation #Traffic #Driving
US Driving and Congestion Rates Are Higher Than Ever
bloomberg.com
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Data Drives the City of Tomorrow, and It’s About Time Everyone Noticed. In the tangled web of urban infrastructure, air pollution data isn't just another layer—it's essential. Picture this TomTom, not only helps you dodge traffic but alerts you to high pollution zones ahead. Sure, some might ignore it, but for the 35-40% of drivers who fall into sensitive groups—parents with kids prone to asthma, people with respiratory issues—that’s a game-changer. With Sparrow, cities get a simple, powerful “click-to-add-layer” solution. Urban efficiency is no longer an option; it’s a click away. #airpollution #urbanhealth Dan El Baze 🎗️ https://lnkd.in/gnJJs82A
How traffic data can make cities safer and more efficient
https://www.tomorrow.city
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Traffic, a ubiquitous urban phenomenon, intertwines with daily life, dictating rhythms and routines. Its ebb and flow mirror societal patterns, reflecting moments of frenetic activity and serene calmness. Yet, beneath its surface lies a complex web of causes and effects: burgeoning populations, inadequate infrastructure, and shifting behaviors. The symphony of honks and hums, punctuated by occasional chaos, illustrates the intricate dance between vehicles and pedestrians. Despite advancements in technology and planning, traffic remains a formidable challenge, demanding innovative solutions and collective efforts to navigate its labyrinthine pathways and pave the road towards smoother, more sustainable mobility.Traffic congestion is a perennial issue in urban centers worldwide, causing frustration and delays for commuters. With the rise in population and the number of vehicles on the roads, cities are struggling to keep up with the demand for transportation infrastructure. Gridlock during rush hours has become a common sight, leading to wasted time and productivity. Additionally, traffic jams contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating environmental concerns. Governments and urban planners are continuously seeking solutions such as public transportation improvements, congestion pricing, and encouraging alternative modes of transportation to alleviate the strain on road networks and mitigate the impacts of traffic congestion. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinkers #designthinking
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Did you know? 🛣️ On average, traffic congestion costs cities up to 2-5% of their annual GDP. That’s because longer commutes, delays, and inefficiencies impact both productivity and fuel consumption (e.g. Los Angeles alone loses approximately $19.2B each year due to traffic delays, with New York facing even higher losses at $33.7B annually due to congestion) Cloud City aims to support cities in minimizing these costs by detecting road disruptions and optimizing urban mobility through real-time insights. #TrafficSolutions #SmartMobility #UrbanEconomy Sources: Mental Floss World Economic Forum
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Cities are eager to digitize curb management but struggle with inadequate data analytics. As cities like San Francisco and San Jose pursue digital curb inventories, the goal is to create adaptable environments that enhance urban #mobility and support climate initiatives: https://ow.ly/QAVz30sHb0M
Cities Look to Digitize Curbs, but Find They Need More Data
govtech.com
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For all the tragedy and suffering brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a potential silver lining. Less cars on the road meant cleaner air and less #climatepollution across America and around the world. It was a chance to unlearn some of our most harmful habits and begin transitioning to a more sustainable way of living. But, unfortunately, that's not what happened. That we are driving more miles per capita than we were before the pandemic make the transition to #electricvehicles more critical than ever. But that alone is not enough. To significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the heating causing extreme weather, we need to press harder on other strategies, like #walking, #biking, #transit, and #telecommuting.
Atlantans are driving even more than we did before COVID
axios.com
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With the rise in urban populations and the persistent reliance on cars, traffic congestion continues to be a significant issue in our society. It's not just an inconvenience; it also poses a substantial economic burden, costing the U.S. over $160 billion each year. Learn more about how smart cities can pave the way to a traffic-free future: #congestion #parking #transportation #smartcities #traffic https://lnkd.in/gBqe4ZGr
Smart Cities: the key to unlocking a traffic-free future
smartcitiesdive.com
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