Are Those Without Cars Second Class Citizens?

Joel S. Hirschhorn illustrates how non-motorists in America are discriminated against in many aspects of daily life.

1 minute read

October 28, 2005, 10:00 AM PDT

Alongside bias against poor people and African-Americans is automobile apartheid, born of fifty years of suburban sprawl. First-class citizens drive motor vehicles, second-class Americans walk, cycle, or ride public transit."

" Automobile apartheid means anyone who wants mobility through walking, cycling, or public transportation suffers discrimination in a built environment designed for automobiles."

"Government has largely ignored public safety for second-class citizens. In the past 25 years some 175,000 pedestrians have been killed on America's roadways. Though Americans make less than 5 percent of their trips on foot, 12 percent of all traffic fatalities are pedestrians"

[This item links to the same source as Americans Have A Right to Reject Automobile Dependence published earlier today but includes additional resources -- Editors | Add Comment]

Thanks to Sierra Club California Activist Forum

FULL STORY: Automobile apartheid -- another lesson from Katrina

Friday, October 28, 2005 in Grist Magazine

Transportation United States

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