When Driving Wanes, Local Economies Gain

"Helping people to drive less could lead to big savings, as a new analysis by CEOs for Cities shows. If everyone in the 51 largest metro areas reduced driving by one mile per day on average, the U.S. as a whole could save $31 billion a year. And here's the thing: that money would likely go to more productive use than it does today being tied up in the fossil fuel economy," explains Ben Schiller. 

So how can cities encourage significant economic and environmental benefits through modest reductions in driving? "[B]y creating 'strong urban cores and neighborhoods with a mix of uses'; investing in public transit, allowing people to travel less; by focusing on walkability and cycling infrastructure; and enabling car sharing."