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A new study finds technology is enabling Americans to drive less. "The Internet and mobile communications devices, like the I-Phone, have enabled a new array of ways to get around or navigate transportation options," said Joanna Guy, Program Associate, Maryland PIRG.
The study found that these different new ways to go are multiplying quickly, including 30 major cities participating in bike-share. "And 800,000 people are members of car-share programs," continued Guy.
Real-time apps and on-board wi-fi for public transit, as well as car-sharing, bike-sharing and ride-sharing have spread rapidly in recent years. The report examines new evidence on how these practices are changing travel behavior.
"Personal auto ownership used to be the clear ticket to mobility," said Guy. "For Baby Boomers, driving your car represented freedom and spontaneity. But today, especially for younger people, owning a car increasingly represents big expenses and parking hassles. Technology and vehicle-sharing services have started to make it easier not to own a car or for households to own fewer. Public transit systems, especially with on-board wi-fi and real-time apps, can be the backbone of this new mobility."
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