A new study indicates people in Wisconsin are driving less. Bruce Speight with WISPIRG – Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group – says the trend began before the onset of the recession, but it hasn’t stopped with the economic recovery.
“Here in Wisconsin, the average person is driving as much as in 1997, and total vehicle miles traveled since 2004 has decreased by three percent,” Spaignt said.
Some households are apparently deciding to make do with a single car, and in cities like Madison, they can take advantage of the “car-sharing” option. Sonya Newenhouse is founder of Community Car. which is marking its tenth anniversary in Madison.
“It’s a car rental service by the hour, that’s aided in its convenience by technology,” said Newenhouse. “You can sit at home and reserve a car.”
Other developments include bike sharing programs like Madison’s E-Cycle, and technology like mobile phone apps which make it easier to make bus connections. Speight says policy makers need to be aware of the changing transportation landscape as they make funding decisions for the future.
