A brown cloud of pollution hangs suspended over the Phoenix skyline. Permeating the air, the mass comes from varied sources, and cars are one of them. But a trend eschewing cars in favor of public transportation seems to be emerging across Arizona and the United States.
The Arizona PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Education Fund, a consumer-advocacy group, released a study Thursday showing that Americans are driving less for the first time since World War II. Young people, especially, are avoiding driving in favor of other public-transportation options.
Serena Unrein, public-interest advocate for the Arizona PIRG, announced the study’s findings at a press conference held on Taylor Mall on the Downtown campus Thursday morning.
“We need to build transportation that makes sense for Phoenix,” Unrein said.
Downtown Phoenix has light rail, a bus system and increasing bike lines, but it still needs more, she said.
“If we continue to build transportation structure the way we have, that won’t work,” Unrein said.
The Arizona PIRG has been analyzing transportation trends in the U.S. for the past several years and spent the past few months compiling the report.
PIRG used data from the United States Census and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. It also cited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Energy Information Administration as sources.
According to the study, titled “Transportation and the New Generation,” the number of vehicle miles traveled by young people ages 16-34 dropped 23 percent from 2001 to 2009.
The study cites increasing fuel costs, new licensing laws, improvements in alternative transportation and changing values as reason why young adults are driving less.
Valley Metro CEO Steve Banta attended the press conference. Banta said that Valley Metro did not assist with the study but that the study promotes public transportation.
“The total transit network, which is many modes working in concert, will help keep our young people in the region and support our local economy,” Banta said in a press release.
Valley Metro ridership has increased since it opened in 2008. February ridership of all Valley Metro operations in Phoenix was at 3,939,009, compared with February 2011, when ridership was at 3,577,855, according to Valley Metro’s monthly ridership reports.
“The real key to living in an urban area is reduce the use of an automobile,” Banta said.
A solution to furthering transportation options is to speak directly with public officials.
“It’s important that our policy makers pay attention and really evaluate how we spend our transportation money,” Unrein said.
Jessica Boehm, a USGD senator representing Barrett, the Honors College, attended the conference on behalf of her constituents, she said.
Boehm agreed that people need to speak with their public officials but said people also can support public transportation simply by using it more.
“Extra transportation will lead to more people down here (in downtown Phoenix),” Boehm said. “It’s a cause and effect rule.”
“We’ll continue to beat the drum,” Unrein said. “Young people don’t want their grandparents’ transportation system.”
The PIRG report can be downloaded at arizonapirg.org.
Contact the reporter at josselyn.berry@asu.edu
