MONEY SAVED BY GOING CARFREE FREED TO SPEND IN LOCAL ECONOMY
-> According to a Nov.18th City Clock Magazine article, "If urban car ownership levels in the U.S. were the same as Paris, American consumers would have over $450 billion to spend annually on other things. Thats enough to pay for a state of the art city-wide light-rail transit network in 100 cities. All in just one year. In the U.S., car ownership levels are at 809 vehicles per 1,000 people but generally range between 650 and 750 in urban areas. In Paris, its 450, Copenhagen 225, and Hong Kong 73. Of all the G20 countries, the U.S. is way out in front when it comes to car ownership... Going car free can add $7,000 a year to your discretionary spending...
"Of the more than $9,000 spent annually per person on car ownership, $7,095 leaves the local economy according to AAA... So where does all of that car money go if its not leaving the city? One study found that pedestrians and cyclists spend more than drivers through more frequent (but smaller) purchases (Examining Consumer Behavior and Travel Choices: <a href="http://bit.ly/1tbQPb0">http://bit.ly/1tbQPb0</a>;)..."
Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/1F1qNPS">http://bit.ly/1F1qNPS</a>;
from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
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B' Spokes: Talk to any politician and they love tourism as it brings money into the local economy. So what's the opposite of tourism? I will assert the over use of cars as it's mostly money that leaves the local economy. But then I hear counter arguments that not many bike, Well we don't get many tourists either, let alone tourists that are here year round. - Think about it.