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7 big reasons why people are giving up cars

  • <p><b>1. Lack of Access To Automobiles</b><br>Accessibility to vehicles drops as population becomes more dense. In the most crowded places, with 10,000 people per square mile, about 30 percent of residents do not have access to cars. But in areas with fewer than 2,000 people per square mile, almost everyone has access to a vehicle.</p>
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    Living car free

    1. Lack of Access To Automobiles
    Accessibility to vehicles drops as population becomes more dense. In the most crowded places, with 10,000 people per square mile, about 30 percent of residents do not have access to cars. But in areas with fewer than 2,000 people per square mile, almost everyone has access to a vehicle.

    (Photo: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
  • <b>2. Fewer People Are Getting Driver's Licenses</b><br>Although 89 percent of Americans hold driver's licenses, more than one in 10 people do not. There's been a lot of attention paid to young people putting off getting their licenses. But statistics also show fewer Hispanics and other minorities are getting licenses, especially over age 50.
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    Living car free

    2. Fewer People Are Getting Driver's Licenses
    Although 89 percent of Americans hold driver's licenses, more than one in 10 people do not. There's been a lot of attention paid to young people putting off getting their licenses. But statistics also show fewer Hispanics and other minorities are getting licenses, especially over age 50.
    AP Photo/Chris Stewart
  • <b>3. The Rapidly Aging Vehicle Fleet</b><br>There's been a dramatic change in the number of vehicles that are 10 years old or older. These now make up almost 40 percent of the vehicles on the road. For their owners, it is often an easy step from owning a car to giving one up.
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    Living car free

    3. The Rapidly Aging Vehicle Fleet
    There's been a dramatic change in the number of vehicles that are 10 years old or older. These now make up almost 40 percent of the vehicles on the road. For their owners, it is often an easy step from owning a car to giving one up.
    AP Photo/Don Ryan
  • <b>4. Walkable Communities</b><br>It makes perfect sense: if it's easy to walk to places, it's not as difficult to live without a car. The recent focus by urban planners on walkable communities is likely to be a future factor in the decision to go car free.
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    Living Free

    4. Walkable Communities
    It makes perfect sense: if it's easy to walk to places, it's not as difficult to live without a car. The recent focus by urban planners on walkable communities is likely to be a future factor in the decision to go car free.
    AP Photo/Hasan Jamali
  • <b>5. Access To Public Transportation</b><br>The better the public transit choices, the more people are likely to use them, allowing for car free living. In Detroit, public transit is unreliable and scarce, but there is a new emphasis on making the city more transit friendly.
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    Living car free

    5. Access To Public Transportation
    The better the public transit choices, the more people are likely to use them, allowing for car free living. In Detroit, public transit is unreliable and scarce, but there is a new emphasis on making the city more transit friendly.
    Andrew Burton/Getty Images
  • <b>6. Bicycling As A Car Alternative</b><br> In Amsterdam, population of 801,200 in the city limits, there are an estimated 881,000 bicycles. A bike-friendly atmosphere makes cars optional.
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    Living car free

    6. Bicycling As A Car Alternative
    In Amsterdam, population of 801,200 in the city limits, there are an estimated 881,000 bicycles. A bike-friendly atmosphere makes cars optional.
    TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
  • <b>7. Great Weather Helps</b><br>It is easier to go car free if you don't have to fight ice and snow. Researchers say places with favorable weather are ideal spots for residents to use other transportation modes.<br>[Related: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/emeh45ijfd/car-prices-at-near-records/?utm_source=autos.yahoo.com&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=giving+up+cars&partner=yahooautos" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Why People Are Driving Less;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Why People Are Driving Less</a>]
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    Living car free

    7. Great Weather Helps
    It is easier to go car free if you don't have to fight ice and snow. Researchers say places with favorable weather are ideal spots for residents to use other transportation modes.
    [Related: Why People Are Driving Less]
    AP Photo/Dave Martin
<p><b>1. Lack of Access To Automobiles</b><br>Accessibility to vehicles drops as population becomes more dense. In the most crowded places, with 10,000 people per square mile, about 30 percent of residents do not have access to cars. But in areas with fewer than 2,000 people per square mile, almost everyone has access to a vehicle.</p>
<b>2. Fewer People Are Getting Driver's Licenses</b><br>Although 89 percent of Americans hold driver's licenses, more than one in 10 people do not. There's been a lot of attention paid to young people putting off getting their licenses. But statistics also show fewer Hispanics and other minorities are getting licenses, especially over age 50.
<b>3. The Rapidly Aging Vehicle Fleet</b><br>There's been a dramatic change in the number of vehicles that are 10 years old or older. These now make up almost 40 percent of the vehicles on the road. For their owners, it is often an easy step from owning a car to giving one up.
<b>4. Walkable Communities</b><br>It makes perfect sense: if it's easy to walk to places, it's not as difficult to live without a car. The recent focus by urban planners on walkable communities is likely to be a future factor in the decision to go car free.
<b>5. Access To Public Transportation</b><br>The better the public transit choices, the more people are likely to use them, allowing for car free living. In Detroit, public transit is unreliable and scarce, but there is a new emphasis on making the city more transit friendly.
<b>6. Bicycling As A Car Alternative</b><br> In Amsterdam, population of 801,200 in the city limits, there are an estimated 881,000 bicycles. A bike-friendly atmosphere makes cars optional.
<b>7. Great Weather Helps</b><br>It is easier to go car free if you don't have to fight ice and snow. Researchers say places with favorable weather are ideal spots for residents to use other transportation modes.<br>[Related: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/emeh45ijfd/car-prices-at-near-records/?utm_source=autos.yahoo.com&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=giving+up+cars&partner=yahooautos" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Why People Are Driving Less;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Why People Are Driving Less</a>]

Shifts in demographics and lifestyles mean that for the first time in 50 years, the number of families without a car has gone up.

The development comes from a study called Commuting in America 2013: The National Report on Commuting Trends and Patterns, by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Here are the seven reasons for the rise in car free living.

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