Car Culture Deeply Engrained in American Society

In a recent tweet, an individual expressed their frustration with the deep-rooted car culture in America. The tweet reads “lol. She's so close to "getting it" but American car-culture is deeply ingrained. America could have beautiful streets, walkability, and markets more interesting than your phone, too. But they won't. Because cars”. This sentiment is shared by many who are looking for more pedestrian friendly cities that prioritize people over cars. The United States has been built around the automobile since its invention in 1886 by Karl Benz and its mass production by Henry Ford beginning in 1908. Cars have become so intertwined with our lives that many of us can’t imagine life without them; from driving to work or school to going out for groceries or entertainment, we rely on our cars to get us there quickly and conveniently. However, this reliance on automobiles has had a negative impact on our cities as well as our health and environment due to increased air pollution and traffic congestion. The need for change is becoming increasingly evident as cities across the country struggle with gridlock traffic, limited public transportation options, lack of affordable housing near job centers, and deteriorating infrastructure due to underinvestment in roads and bridges over the years. To combat these issues some cities are turning towards pedestrian friendly design which includes wider sidewalks, bike lanes, improved public transportation options such as light rail systems or bus rapid transit systems (BRT), better street lighting for safety at night time hours and more green spaces like parks or plazas for socializing purposes. These changes not only improve quality of life but also create economic opportunities through increased tourism spending from visitors who come specifically because of these amenities which leads to job creation and economic growth overall within the city limits . However despite all these benefits of pedestrian friendly design , it remains difficult for many Americans to break away from their dependence on cars . This is partly due to cultural reasons; car ownership has long been seen as a symbol of freedom , independence , success ,and status among other things which makes it hard for people let go off this notion even if they want too . It’s also due to practical reasons such as lack of reliable public transportation options available throughout most parts of the country which forces people into using their own vehicles instead . Therefore if we truly want safer streets , healthier communities , cleaner air , better public transportation options then we must first start by changing how we think about cars before any real progress can be made .