Across
Europe, cities are leading the way toward a cleaner,
healthier, and more sustainable future. One of the major
ways they're doing that is by reducing car
dependency. From Paris to Oslo, from Milan to
London, more than 340 cities and towns have
enacted restrictions on personal car use, creating more
space for pedestrians, cyclists, and efficient public
transit systems. These policies are improving
air quality, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and
making urban spaces safer and more
livable.
Yet in the United
States, most cities remain car-dominated,
prioritizing roadways and parking over people's
well-being. When New York City attempted to introduce a
congestion pricing plan to reduce traffic and fund
public transit, Republicans were outraged and
intervened.
The transportation sector is
one of the largest contributors to climate
change, with cars and trucks emitting vast
amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. At
a time when climate change continues to soar
rapidly out of control, reducing car dependency
is one of the most effective ways cities can cut
emissions and slow global warming.
Vehicle
emissions are also a major source of air
pollution, including fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides, which are linked to
respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and
premature deaths. Cities that have implemented
car restrictions have seen huge improvements in
air quality, directly benefiting public
health and saving lives.
Reducing
car dependency is not about taking away mobility — it's
about creating better alternatives. As
one Parisian urban planning specialist, professor Carlos
Moreno, has explained: the goal is to make sustainable
living so convenient, cars only become necessary
as a last resort.
Major
U.S. cities must build up options around to make
pedestrian paths, biking areas, and public transit more
accessible. The U.S. should also invest in major
infrastructure projects to build out and improve public
transportation options, so that residents can have easy
alternatives to cars.
If we are serious
about tackling climate change, improving air quality,
and protecting public health, then the U.S. — one of the
world's largest carbon polluters — must follow Europe's
lead. Sign the petition!
