Does Constant Driving Really Make our Country Richer?

Does Constant Driving Really Make our Country Richer?

Author: StreetsblogUSA July 1, 2025 Duration: 23:00

We've all heard the argument that the soul of America's economy is based on how much we all love to drive. But does the data support the narrative that cars connect us to far-flung opportunities to make and spend more money — or has our country's car-powered productivity revolution actually stalled out? 

Today on The Brake, we're talking to Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute about his new paper on the "mobility-productivity paradox", and why so many economic indicators actually go down the more we collectively rely on automobiles — and many go up when we build a more multimodal future. And then we get into the really hard question: how to get our fellow Americans to believe it. 


You hear a lot about electric cars and futuristic transit, but what about the fundamental shift required to build cities where driving isn't a daily necessity? That's the terrain explored on The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast. Hosted by the team at StreetsblogUSA, this series moves beyond the headlines to engage with the activists, planners, writers, and community members who are actively reimagining American streets. Each conversation digs into the real-world work of dismantling car dependency, examining the policy choices, cultural norms, and historical decisions that got us here. The discussions are grounded in the intersecting categories of society, commentary, culture, and news, offering a nuanced lens on everything from bike lane debates and public transit equity to the subtle ways our built environment shapes daily life. This isn't just a technical talk about infrastructure; it's about the human stories and the political movement fighting for safer, more connected, and less congested communities. Tune in for a podcast that acts as a vital pit stop for understanding the complex, often frustrating, but ultimately hopeful push to take our foot off the gas and build a different future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Would a Car-Light City Really be 'Quiet'? (Dr. Erica Walker) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
Epidemiologists around the world have sounded the alarm about the health risks of rising noise pollution, and called out cars as one of the largest sources of the crisis. In our quest to make cities quieter, though, nois…
Why Americans Don't Drive Less When Gas Prices Soar (Dr. Ian Walker) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
Even as gas prices hit historic highs, many Americans aren't driving any less — because so many of their communities are so car-dependent, they don't really have a choice. But what about people who could skip the pump bu…
Why Every City Needs A Car Master Plan (Cathy Tuttle) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
Countless communities across America say they're planning for a future where more residents walk, bike, and roll to get around. So why do transportation leaders spend so much time drafting "pedestrian master plans" and "…