To drive or not to drive?

We were all warned in the mid 20^th century about the impact of cars; renowned town planner Sir Colin Buchanan noted in 1963: “It is impossible to spend any time on the study of the future of traffic in towns without at once being appalled by the magnitude of the emergency that is coming upon us. We are nourishing at immense cost a monster of great potential destructiveness, and yet we love him dearly.”

Although the personal car has opened up endless opportunities for people, the disconnection of local communities, increase in urban sprawl, lack of connected pedestrian facilities, and to some degree an increase in loneliness can also be associated with the rise of in car ownership, while the sedentary lifestyles driven by a lack of active transport options have increased cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Of course, the toll that mass vehicle ownership is taking on our planet also sends out an alarming signal. Transport is now the USA’s biggest CO² contributor, and emissions have more than doubled in the Middle East over the last 30 years, despite new technology improving fuel and emissions efficiency.

A 2018 global study revealed that 68% of people surveyed perceive climate change to be a major threat, while simultaneously SUV sales (the most emission-intensive cars) have increased by 60% over the last 10 years. This data suggests that our relationships with cars are completely irrational. American phycologist Jonathan Haidt has a great analogy of our moral logic: “The emotional side is the elephant; the rational side is the rider. The rider of the elephant looks like he or she is in charge, but when there’s a disagreement between the elephant and the rider, the elephant usually wins.”

So, can we give up cars? The rider will say ‘yes’ and the elephant ‘no’.

It’s not an argument solely for logic; cars don’t just take us from A to B, they have become an extension of us, a status symbol, fashion accessory, storage space, a lullaby for our babies, and a ticket to go anywhere we like at anytime. The idea that this could change might seem alien to some, however, our younger generations seem to be welcoming the notion. It appears that the first instinct of many teenagers around the world is no longer to obtain a driving license and cruise down the road, windows down and music blaring. Teenagers in the United States of America (USA) are now 20% less likely to get a driving license than 25 years ago, and the United Kingdom (UK) is experiencing the same move with a 20% reduction over the last 20 years.

The global outlook

People in the UK are travelling 10% less miles than they were 15 years ago, however in countries across the Middle East, there is an increase in the number of people choosing to own personal cars. Whilst the number of drivers has been accelerated recently by the recent legalisation that enables women to drive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), other factors such as the Middle Eastern climate and lack of viable public transport options have led to a year on year increase in car ownership and pressure on road networks and infrastructure.

In any scenario where there is the wish to remove car reliance and reduce car ownership, cities around the globe need suitable alternatives. For regions like the Middle East this requires investment in pedestrian and micro-mobility infrastructure to provide environments that are connected and safe, offering access to local amenities and places of interest whilst also providing onward connectivity to mass public transportation systems – a challenge that isn’t as straight forward as it might sound.

Throughout the world major cities are developing heavy and light rail schemes that prioritise public transport and mass movement whilst trying to accommodate traffic needs. Bus rapid transport and travel demand management measures including traffic restrictions and congestion charges are on the rise in all major cities, Abu Dhabi have recently introduced tolling systems and Dubai have expanded the reach of their tolling gates. Cities like Madrid and Oslo are also banning cars from their inner-city roads whilst Paris and Hong Kong are introducing substantial parking prices to dissuade commuters from clogging transit routes and parking spaces.

When you consider the fact that online shopping, virtual services, home working, integrated public transit systems and the rise of on-demand travel are all gaining traction, should we be questioning the need, and cost implications, of owning a car and looking instead for other mobility solutions that prioritise cost, convenience and personalisation?

Could this be because the cost of owning and running a car is now too high or could we be witnessing yet another step towards a carless future?

Drivers of a carless future

To reduce our reliance on cars we need to accept that it is a hard sell but not impossible if we can change behaviours and demonstrate via policies, urban design and technology that cars are no longer integral.

The live, work, play masterplan ideology, and the concept of ‘20-minute cities’, offer ways of removing the need for private travel. The idea that all needs can be accessed within 20 minutes by foot, cycle or public transport, is gathering momentum and introducing residents to a lifestyle that requires very little movement whilst offering greater benefits to individuals.

A future that is free from congested roads and dependence on private cars is here if we want it; however, for that to happen we need to think like a pedestrian – we need to offer transport options that work, that feel seamless and offer the sense of convenience that is currently only offered using a car. We need to put the pedestrian at the top of the transport hierarchy and utilise integrated and layered transportation networks that are convenient, personalised and cost-effective; inspiring a future where the private car is a thing of the past.