88% of new DC households are car-free

Greater Greater Washington: "During that time, the number of car-free households in DC has grown by 14.3%, increasing their share of all households from 35% to 37.9%. By contrast, the District only added 1,662 car-owning households since 2010, an increase of just 1.0%.

The percentage of households with one, two, and three or more cars all declined. This is even though typical DC households have considerably more money with which they could buy cars: median incomes grew by 9.3% over the same time period."

County Urging Locals to Bike, Walk Or Take Public Transit On ‘Car Free Day’ | BethesdaNow

.: "Car traffic in Montgomery County will be lighter for at least one day this month if county officials get their wish.

Montgomery County Commuter Services is asking locals to participate in World Car Free Day on Monday, Sept. 22 and opt to walk, bike or take public transportation instead of drive."

Free parking is the biggest car subsidy

Paying commuters to get on their bike is not enough: "Despite growing interest in making bike commuting more popular, bicycle-related benefits are typically dwarfed by the benefits offered for travelling by other modes of transport, especially the car. For example, in the US free car parking is the most common commuter benefit offered – only about 5% of US commuters pay for car parking. The value of those free parking spaces at work is typically well above the US$20 a month awarded to cycle commuters."

Cars drain the economy even while sitting doing nothing

A municipal parking garage for 14th and U? It would not come cheap - Greater Greater Washington: "But those advocating for the garage assert that it would pay for itself. Based on a quick analysis based on numbers from parking experts, it seems likely that such a garage would have to charge $3.50-4.50 per hour just to break even."

State of our climate: Obama can't have it both ways

Oil Change : "The simple truth is that promoting All of the Above energy policy (nee “Drill, Baby, Drill”) is the latest form of climate denial. You simply cannot  believe the science of climate change and promote expanded fossil fuel extraction at the same time."



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Mayoral candidate calls for #freetransit for seniors in DC

Bid for DC Mayor | The Nation: "Shallal’s vision also includes free public transportation for seniors, marijuana decriminalization, and a living wage standard. He proposed easing the property tax burden for elderly residents to help them keep their homes. He’d like the city to make more micro-grants available to small businesses to spur development. He’s said the city should encourage small-scale, local projects—community centers, arts collaboratives, start-up incubators—rather than big ticket items like sports stadiums."



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One third of Baltimore households have no car

Sunrise Shuttle Takes Early Morning Riders to Work - Government - Eldersburg, MD Patch: " In a city with an unemployment rate above 10 percent and a third of households without a car, transportation stands as one of the biggest barriers between Baltimore’s job seekers and a growing concentration of jobs in the suburbs that require low or modest skills."

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