Why again do we need to support cars above all else?
Since the 1950’s the United States has been planning and
developing its communities and transportation infrastructure
around suburban living and the speed and convenience of the
automobile. This has resulted in sprawl, congestion, and a
built environment that is largely inconvenient, inaccessible or
unsafe for active transportation such as walking and bicycling.
Because of this, rates of walking and bicycling are generally
very low, except in dense neighborhoods built on a grid pattern,
and in mixed-use areas where schools, businesses and public
facilities are located within close proximity of residential areas.
The most vulnerable populations, including children, the
elderly and those with special needs, have been functionally
shut out of the transportation and land use infrastructure, and
have become dependant upon the automobile, or have simply
become less active because they cannot move around their
communities without a great deal of effort and personal risk.
http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/SRTS_built_environment_12-08_lo-res.pdf