RTC TrailBlog : advocacy

In Michigan, Hart-Montague Trail to be Renamed for Bill Fields, Farmer and Rail-Trail Champion

Jake Lynch — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

The story of America's rail-trails is rich with characters like the late Bill Field. The Michigan farmer is known and loved by people in this state as the unstoppable force behind the creation of the Hart-Montague Trail State Park, one of the America's great rural rail-trails.

A big man with a booming voice and a presence that always made itself known in a room, Field visited the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin in the late 1970s and returned to Michigan determined to develop a trail through the abandoned railroad corridor that stretched from Hart to Montague, tracks that he grew up around.

The project became known as "Field's Folly." When Field (right) received no support from his fellow county officials for the rail-trail project, he took matters into his own hands, buying the property himself and donating the land, valued at $225,000, to the state.

Though many people laughed at "Field's Folly" then, no one is laughing now. The Hart-Montague Trail State Park is renowned by trail enthusiasts everywhere, and attracts thousands of visitors to the region each year.

So it is wonderful to see that the trail Field worked so hard for will now bear his name. Thanks to the efforts of Michigan State Senator Goeff Hansen (R-Hart.), legislation has been passed to rename the trail the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail State Park. It is a fitting tribute to one of our nation's staunchest trail advocates, and a man who left a terrific legacy for the people of Michigan.

To learn more about Field's early struggles to build the trail, and the success it became, read Laura Stark's wonderful story on the Hart-Montague Trail State Park which was RTC's Trail of the Month for April.

Photo of Bill Field courtesy Joel Mikkelsen

Today's House of Reps Hearing on Transportation Funding

Jake Lynch — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:30:00 GMT

Earlier today the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted a hearing on the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. As generally acknowledged, current funding sources for the Trust Fund (notably gasoline and diesel taxes) are not sufficient to maintain a reliable transportation system. You can read all the testimony from the hearing at the House website here.

The hearing featured presentations on a variety of approaches to enhancing revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. Janet F. Kavinoky Executive Director of Transportation and Infrastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce provided some of the more interesting testimony. Kavinoky began by stating the federal government must take a leading role in transportation policy.

"Infrastructure is not the end result of economic activity, rather it is the framework that makes economic activity possible," she said. Kavinoky also emphasized that transportation is about more than asphalt and steel - it is about mobility.

The economic strength and health of our communities depends on strong federal policy and investment. That is why Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a founding member of the Partnership for Active Transportation, a groundbreaking collaboration that emphasizes the economic benefits of complete networks of trail, biking and walking systems. Learn more at www.partnership4at.org.

At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy we support comprehensive transportation systems. But we also are concerned about the functionality and experience of mobility. We want to make it fun, safe and easy to walk and bike to your favorite destinations. Sign up for our action alerts and stay informed on what's going on in Congress and in your region. Thank you for all you do to support a healthier, more active and mobile America.

What Sequestration Will Mean for Trails: The Latest

Jake Lynch — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:47:00 GMT

Last month, we posted our analysis of the impact of sequestration on the nation's trails, and biking and walking infrastructure.

On March 1, as scheduled, federal agencies were subject to mandatory funding cuts. As we expected, monies in the Highway Trust Fund were protected from cuts, and programs funded with these monies continue as normal.

However, programs administered with funds outside the Highway Trust Fund have been subjected to cuts of between 8 and 10 percent for this fiscal year. That includes Community Development Block Grants, CDC Community Transformation Grants and other programs that fund the development of trails and active transportation networks.

The cuts from sequestration will start to be felt in local communities in early-mid April once federal agencies have reduced their staffing and spending plans.

For several years now, the federal government has been operating on short-term budgets. The latest "continuing resolution" (Washington speak for short term budget) ends on March 27. The Congress passed a new continuing resolution providing funding through the end of this fiscal year (Sept 30, 2013). This budget maintains spending for highway programs as authorized in MAP-21, but also the cuts imposed by the sequestration law on other programs.

The spending battle now moves on to the FY 2014 budget for the year beginning October 1, 2013. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy continues to monitor federal actions related to spending levels, and we are pushing for full funding for all programs that promote trails and active transportation. We will continue to update you as we learn more. Thank you for your support.

What Sequestration May Mean for Trails, Biking and Walking

Jake Lynch — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:36:00 GMT

There has been a lot of news coverage and analysis recently of a federal government sequestration and its potential impacts. At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, our experienced policy and research staff have been mining their sources and sorting through all available information to estimate what impact sequestration could have on our movement for better trails, biking and walking.

The US Department of Transportation has determined that monies in the Highway Trust Fund are protected from sequestration. However, we can expect some cuts to transportation funds that do not come from gas taxes, which could marginally reduce road investments and multi-modal programs such as TIGER.

In addition, programs administered by other federal agencies that promote healthy, safe transportation and trails may also be cut. These programs include the Community Development Block Grants, CDC Community Transformation Grants, Department of Interior funds for trails, and other programs.

Here are some actions you can take to mitigate program losses due to sequestration.

1. Push project sponsors and state agencies to obligate funds as early as possible. As time goes on there will be less money available for unobligated projects.

2. Propose projects with higher than required local matches. Reducing the federal share will help the money go further.

3. Encourage state DOTs to use money from their safety programs for projects that benefit trails, biking and walking. Safety programs aren't being subject to the same cuts and thus have more money available. These funds can be used for education initiatives, encouragement campaigns and safety improvements to roadways.

Please take a moment to pass on this informational post to friends and colleagues in the trails and active transportation movement who might be interested. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Wanted: Bloggers, Amplifiers, Advocates and Writers

Jake Lynch — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:40:00 GMT

One of the great strengths of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is its community, and the network of friends and supporters we have across the country. This strong and diverse partnership of advocates, influencers and passionate local people has helped us do important work like raise support for new rail-trail projects, defend programs that fund trail development and investments in active transportation, and spread the word about rail-trails in every state.

Over the next few years, we're hoping to make this community even stronger by improving and expanding our channels of communication. And we are hoping that you can play a key role.

Do you blog about biking in your region? Perhaps you're the webmaster of a local site about trails or hiking groups? Or maybe you do some writing for your local paper about active transportation, or lobby for new bike infrastructure in your city?

Then we want to keep you in the loop on trails and active transportation news from around America that might impact what happens in your neck of the woods.

Introduce yourself to me at jake@railstotrails.org., and I'll add your contact info to a new email list I'm building of Bloggers, Amplifiers, Advocates and Writers - a community specially designed for sharing the latest new and info.

I look forward to working closely with you, and hearing about what's happening on the trails and sidewalks, and in the meeting rooms and newspaper pages, of your neighborhood.

Stay in touch,

Jake.

Beyond the DOT - the Three Federal Departments That Will Define Our Trail-Building Future

Jake Lynch — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Over the past few weeks, the trails, walking and biking community, including Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, has been very focused on what the impending departure of U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will mean for federal policy and funding of investments in active transportation.

But while another visionary leader like LaHood at the USDOT will certainly move us in the right direction, when it comes to the trail development work that RTC does there are other major departments that have a significant impact on whether trails get built.

The Department of the Interior has been in the news lately, with the nomination of REI CEO Sally Jewell, to replace Ken Salazar at the top post. As the executive department responsible for the management of most federal lands, the department's leadership of the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to name but a few, has a significant impact on opportunities for trail development.

Although Jewell's conservation credentials and support of outdoor recreation opportunities are well known, as Secretary of the Department of Interior (often referred to as "the Department of Everything Else" because of its broad range of responsibilities) she will have to balance the needs and demands of a wide range of interests, notably energy.

The third leg of the trinity in terms of national trail development is the Department of Health and Human Services. With a relatively large pot of money to spend, the HHS, directed by secretary Kathleen Sebelius, has been in the forefront of promoting that the built environment encourage physical activity through its Community Transformation Grants program. Administered by the rock star of health agencies, the Centers for Disease Control, this stream of funding is recognition of the importance of providing safe, practical and attractive places to be active in daily routines. Trail networks within communities are a key part of the solution. Ensuring the leadership of the HHS can make the most of the role that trails, biking and walking play in the nation's public health strategy should also be a focus of active transportation advocates.

It's certainly a focus of ours. As is ensuring that policies and programs that allow for the development of trails is firmly in Sally Jewell's mind as she heads to Washington. Keeping a dialogue open with all these agencies, not just the DOT, is how Rails-to-Trails Conservancy aims to lead from the front in promoting active transportation as a key part of America's future.

RTC Opens the Door to a Bold New World

Jake Lynch — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:40:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is an innovator. It began with our leadership and trailblazing support of the rail-trail movement in its infancy in the 1980s. It continues today through our connection of rail-trail development to a broader system of pathways that encourage walking and biking, improve traffic capacity in overloaded cities, boost local economies and real estate markets, and increase the independence and mobility of all Americans.

Our newest work of innovation is the Partnership for Active Transportation. For the first time, RTC has reached beyond the traditional advocates of biking, walking and trails systems, and mobilized a large and diverse group that will, over the coming decades, be a constant voice in support of better investment that encourage and facilitate active transportation.

This Partnership for Active Transportation includes public health organizations, real estate companies, tourism agencies and business representatives. It brings together organizations that support walking and biking because of its health benefits with organizations that are interested in walking and biking because of its impact on commercial development.

The innovation in this is the breadth of support RTC is generating, the weight of our advocacy. As the benefits of active transportation infrastructure reach a broader range of sectors and interests, we are bringing those interests together, in one organization, to make sure active transportation is an even bigger part of America's future.

Are you part of an organization that is fit, fast, healthy and mobile, and that wants the same for America? Join us. www.partnership4at.org

RTC Brings Trail Benefits Message to House of Representatives

Jake Lynch — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:06:00 GMT

Earlier this morning, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Pat Tomes addressed a United States House of Representatives legislative briefing in Washington, D.C. on the economic benefits of rail-trails and trail development across America.

RTC's user survey and economic impact data work, which has put hard numbers behind otherwise anecdotal evidence that destination rail-trail do support and boost local economies, continues to grow in significance as trails advocates ramp up efforts to make sure the nation's elected officials and leaders understand the true value of investing in trails.

Tomes presentation on Capitol Hill today was part of the American Hiking Society's "Hike the Hill" event, which aims to bring trail development issues to the attention of federal lawmakers. American Hiking Society tapped RTC to lead the presentation as the only national trail organization with a long history of recording and studying the impact of trails tourism and local trail use.

"The reason we began concentrating on gathering trail user data and calculating the fiscal impacts of trail tourism years ago was exactly for moments like this," Tomes said. "When our senators and representatives, and governors and officials at the state level too, begin making decisions about the value of the Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Alternatives, and whether to make room in their budgets for trail development, they need understand the real equation. Communities all over America will tell you these trails are not frivolous things. There are thousands of main street businesses, small communities, local entrepreneurs, who are making a go of it only because of their local rail-trail or trail system. That is what federal investment in trails really means, before you even start considering the health benefits, the transportation capacity, and the environmental benefits."

For more on RTC's trail user surveys and economic impact data, visit http://community.railstotrails.org/media/tags/economic+impact/default.aspx

20 Years Later, Massachusetts Advocates Break Through on Pathway to the Sea

Jake Lynch — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Rail-trail years are like dog years. In the world of planning and building a rail-trail, calendar years equal mere months, and a decade is barely a cycle of the seasons. In this world, where even the best rail-trail projects can take 20 or 30 years to come to fruition, patience, commitment and consistency are the most valuable of traits, their owners oaks of the movement rather than blazing stars streaking across the sky.

As is Bike to the Sea, Inc. Since 1993 this Massachusetts nonprofit has been a solid voice for the creation of a nine-mile bike and pedestrian trail, known as the Northern Strand Community Trail, from Malden to the beaches of Lynn and Revere on the shores of Broad Sound and Nahant Bay. While the state has long recognized that a trail to the sea along the unused Saugus Branch rail line is feasible, the task of raising support, awareness and funds for the project has been left to local advocates.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has assisted in that crucial effort. Thanks to our partners at The Coca Cola Foundation, last year we granted Bike to the Sea $12,500 in order to meet the matching requirement for a Recreational Trail Program (RTP) grant of more than $84,000. This money enabled the first phases of construction of the Northern Strand Community Trail earlier this year, in Saugus.

This ribboncutting came at a poignant time, with Bike to the Sea this year marking its 20th anniversary--two decades since a small group of locals beginning advocating for a pathway they knew would provide a tremendous benefit for the region.

To celebrate, Bike to the Sea will hold a 20th Anniversary Gala at the Dockside Restaurant function room on the corner of Commercial and Medford streets, Malden, Friday, November 2, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be a terrific occasion to reflect on the many achievements of local advocates over the past two decades, including new sections of rail-trail in Everett, Malden and Saugus, and to look forward to the years of trail building ahead.

Space is limited. Please RSVP to swinslow4152@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy Bike to the Sea, Inc.

Community Buy-In Builds Beautiful Parkway in California

Jake Lynch — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Everywhere you go you hear that times are tough. Particularly in the world of trail-building, resources for development and maintenance are limited or nonexistent, and it can be disheartening for volunteers and advocates who face seemingly insurmountable planning challenges and multi-million dollar estimates.

But Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's report, Community Built: Stories of Volunteers Creating and Caring for Their Trails, contains inspiring examples of everyday Americans across the country using their community strength to create incredible trails. It gives trail champions a reason to take heart, because across the country, stories abound of trails getting developed, extended and cared for with minimal resources.

Reedley Community Parkway in California is one of those. Built along a railbanked right-of-way next to existing tracks, the 2.6-mile trail provides an alternate route to access some of Reedley's busiest arterial streets. Hundreds of walkers, cyclists and runners use the Reedley Parkway daily.

From its inception, the trail-building process was driven by a coalition of citizens and volunteers who had a dream of a non-motorized trail in the heart of Reedley that could be used for commuting and recreation. At the time of abandonment, the city had possession of the downtown right-of-way, which they planned to relinquish to adjacent landowners. However, a grassroots coalition of citizens approached the city government and asked for it to be transformed into a trail. A Rails to Trails Committee was formed to engage in fundraising, organize volunteers to help with the construction process, and act as a forum for public input into the design of the trail. The Trails Committee has been the driving force in maintaining the trail and incorporating new amenities into it.

The Trails Committee's success in engaging the community has been stunning: more than 75 different organizations have been involved with the trail. Volunteers have planted more than 840 trees and 150 shrubs, and the Trails Committee was given significant autonomy by the city council to utilize volunteers as needed for the beautification of the parkway, reducing costs for the city and enabling continued improvements to be made.

While construction of the trail was funded by various federal government grants, $63,000 in donations from local businesses and citizens have provided the necessary amenities. Twenty-three benches were donated. Two drinking fountains, two bicycle racks, a kiosk for posting community events, three picnic tables, two donor boards with more than 100 tiles, and one art sculpture were all paid for by the community. An ornamental fountain was donated by Buttonwillow Nursery, and the brick foundation surrounding the fountain was donated by Reedley Lumber. Three dog waste dispensers were donated by the Reedley Veterinary Hospital. The Fresno County Workforce Investment Board Youth Commission painted a mural celebrating the town's history, and a gazebo was built by Beckenhauer Construction, using materials the city government had purchased with a grant. Landscaping was completed by student volunteers from Reedley College.

The incredible amount of time and money contributed to the Reedley Parkway by volunteers is a great example of the benefits that can accrue when a tightly knit community "buys in" to the vision of a trail. Reedley Parkway is the only non-motorized trail running through the small town of Reedley, and it connects the entire town from northwest to southeast. These factors have made the residents proud of their trail and instilled in them this sense of ownership.

To learn more about the community that has grown around the Reedly Parkway, and similar inspiring local efforts, read and download Community Built at www.railstotrails.org.

Photos courtesy Blossom Trail Photography

Texas Community Mourns Passing of Iris Stagner, 54

Jake Lynch — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:00:00 GMT

The bicycling community is today mourning the loss of one of its most loved and respected advocates.

Iris Stagner, a member of the BikeTexas Board of Directors and a longtime promoter of bike safety and education, was killed on Monday after being hit by a pickup truck while riding on U.S. Route 180 outside Mineral Wells, Texas.

Everyone at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy sends our sincerest condolences to Iris' family and friends, her colleagues at BikeTexas, and the many people she helped during her life as a passionate citizen.

"Iris has been a tireless volunteer and champion for Texas cyclists of all types and ages," says Executive Director of BikeTexas, Robin Stallings. "Iris believed in giving back and wanted to see more racers engaged in bicycle advocacy and making conditions safer for the current and next generation. Her death is a terrible loss to Texas and the cycling community."

Friends of Iris will gather for a memorial ride before her funeral, today, Friday, September 21, in Mineral Wells. The five-mile ride will start from the parking lot of the Palo Pinto General Hospital, 400 SW 25th Avenue. If you would like to join the ride, please plan to be at the parking lot at 12:30 p.m.

Iris' legacy remains in the strategies and legislation she developed to make conditions safer for riders in Texas.

"She loved the bicycle trail in Mineral Wells and the protected bikeways that are catching on around the world, but she could not resist the beautiful, open Texas roads," Stallings says. "Iris believed the roads exist for all users and we should exercise our rights as Americans to use them. She had been harassed and threatened while cycling by aggressive drivers many times over the years but she would not be intimidated."

"Iris knew she was a safe and skilled bicycle rider and did not take unnecessary chances. She also said, 'If I die while riding my bike, then I will go out doing what I love.' Iris knew that the more bicyclists there are in a community, the safer it is for all of them. Unfortunately for all of us, Iris Stagner, age 54, died about 50 years too soon."

Friends of Iris are encouraged to share memories and photos on the BikeTexas Facebook page.

Photo courtesy Mineral Wells Index

Just Outside Philadelphia, Energy Grows to Recycle Former Rail Line

Jake Lynch — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:30:00 GMT

The success of the nearby Pennypack Trail has inspired a group of residents in Bucks County, Pa., to push for the conversion of another section of disused rail corridor into a public trail.

"Build Our Trail - A Rail Trails Initiative," is advocating for the now unused Fox Chase-Newtown line (right) owned by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), to be developed into a shared-use trail that would connect to the established Pennypack Trail as well as the proposed Neshaminy Creek Trail.

"Such trails have proven to be safe and valuable assets for local communities," the group writes on its website. "Multi-use trails can be utilized by our future generations and create more appealing, healthy, and livable communities."

Unfortunately, rail-trail advocates in Bucks County, which is less than an hour from the Philadelphia metro area, are hitting a frustrating hurdle common in urban areas. Although corridor leasing agreements explicitly state that the transit authority would be permitted to resume rail service on the line at any time in the future, local officials are concerned the development of a trail would somehow impede such reactivation.

SEPTA has admitted "there is very little chance of that happening." SEPTA's Media Officer Kristin Geiger told phillyburbs.com that "the reactivation of this line segment (which stopped running in 1983) is not included in the long-range plan for the region," citing the "millions of dollars" that would be required to electrify, upgrade and reopen the railroad.

Despite the fact that on the Pennypack Trail along the same line SEPTA retains the right to convert the trail back into a rail line if that ever becomes feasible, Bucks County officials are still wary of supporting a more constructive use of this currently underutilized corridor. According to the phillyburbs article, Bucks County Planning Commission Executive Director Lynn Bush said it was doubtful county officials would play an active role in any effort to turn the unused rail line into a trail. They wouldn't want to run the risk that might discourage restoration of rail service, she said.

However, the towns of Northampton and Upper Southampton, through which the rail line passes, have endorsed the rail-trail plan. If realized, the trail would become a vital link for "The Circuit", a planned 750-mile trail network connecting the greater Philadelphia area.

The Build Our Trail group is now collecting signatures in support of a rail-trail project. Learn more, and show your support, at www.buildourtrail.org

Photo courtesy of phillyburbs.com

What Does MAP-21 Mean for My Trail Project?

Jake Lynch — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:48:00 GMT

As a national leader of the active transportation movement, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is well-placed to help trails, walking and bicycling advocates across the country understand what the new federal Transportation Bill means for projects and plans in their communities.

To that end, on Tuesday, July 31, we hosted the second of two webinars exploring the nuts and bolts of this legislation, MAP-21, and offering advice for local practitioners on how to encourage their state to make good use of the limited pot of funds available for trails, biking and walking.

Your response made it obvious that there is a huge amount of interest in the MAP-21 repercussions for active transportation. Almost 300 people took part in the interactive webinar, which featured:

Tracy Hadden Loh, director of the National Transportation Enhancements (TE) Clearinghouse and RTC Research Manager
Amber Thelen, the TE Program Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Transportation
Christopher Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Program Manager for the Federal Highway Administration.

The webinar was moderated by Erika Young, the transportation director for the National Association of Regional Councils.

If you missed out on the webinar, never fear. For full recordings of both webinars, downloadable slides, state-specific TMA maps and other resources, visit www.railstotrails.org/map21webinar. Transcripts of the Q&A sessions will also be available at this site in the coming days.

Beat That Bucket List - 300 Miles Down the California Coast

Jake Lynch — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:10:00 GMT

It seems like the term "Bucket List" is all the rage these days--describing those once-in-a-lifetime adventures we dream about but often push to the side, caught up in the current of a busy day-to-day life.

But what better time to start ticking things off your bucket list than right now? How about a 300-mile, fully supported ride with a group of friends and strangers down the stunning California coast?

Registration is still open for Climate Ride California, September 9-13. Beginning in California's historic Redwood Empire near Eureka, Climate Riders travels along the scenic coast and venture into the famed Russian River Valley before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. Climate Ride California is more than a bike trip. It's an inspiring journey with like-minded people who are united by their passion for sustainability, renewable energy and bicycles--the ultimate carbon-free form of transportation.

Better yet, Climate Ride helps raise money for your favorite nonprofits, like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). You can designate the money you raise to take part in the ride goes to support groups like RTC that promote better transportation options and an active and healthy America.

For more information, check out the registration page. And if you opt to dedicate some, or all, of your ride proceeds to RTC, be sure to let us know! We would love to share your story with our members to help meet your fundraising goal.

If you'd like a personal account of what you can expect on the California Route, email RTC's own Milo Bateman at milo@railstotrails.org. He led Team RTC in 2010 and is happy to talk you through the highlights and challenges of this remarkable journey.

Photo courtesy of climateride.org.

Americans Driving Less, Looking for Better Options

Jake Lynch — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Central to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) mission is the idea that when it comes to getting from A to B, it is important to give people more options than a motor vehicle, and that powering ourselves, by foot or by wheel, has better outcomes for our health, our environment and our economy.

We have long known that Americans are eager to get out of their cars and travel other ways whenever they can, and now the data supporting that continues to pile up.

A new report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG) and the Frontier Group demonstrates that Americans have been driving less since the middle of last decade. The report, Transportation and the New Generation: Why Young People are Driving Less and What it Means for Transportation Policy, shows that young people in particular are decreasing the amount they drive and increasing their use of transportation alternatives.

While federal and state governments have historically made massive investments in new highway capacity on the assumption that driving will continue to increase at a rapid and steady pace, the changing transportation preferences of young people--and Americans overall--throw those assumptions into doubt.

The report reveals that for the first time since World War II, Americans are driving less. In 2011, the average American was driving 6 percent fewer miles per year than in 2004. This trend away from driving is even more pronounced among people aged 16 - 34. This group drove 23 percent fewer miles in 2009 than the average young person in 2001. The report also notes that a growing number of young Americans do not have driver's licenses; from 2000 to 2010, the share of 14 to 34-year-olds without a license increased from 21 percent to 26 percent.

"America's transportation preferences appear to be changing. Our elected officials need to make transportation decisions based on the real needs of Americans in the 21st century... especially when transportation dollars are so scarce," says USPIRG's Phineas Baxandall, a co-author of the report.

The trend away from steady growth in driving is likely to be long-lasting, even after the economy recovers. Young people are driving less for a host of reasons--higher gas prices, new licensing laws, improvements in technology that support public transit and biking and walking, and changes in Generation Y's values and preferences--all factors that are likely to have an impact for years to come.

Photo of commuters in New York by RTC
Graph courtesy of USPIRG and the Frontier Group