Millennials Lead in Alternate Mobility

Federal transportation funding is scarce, and localities are making up the difference. "With no long-term solution in place -- or even in sight -- for the sputtering federal Highway Trust Fund, state and local governments are significantly increasing their own transportation spending."

According to a report prepared by Deloitte University Press, "By supporting alternative approaches such as car-, ride- and bike-sharing, jurisdictions can greatly improve mobility for residents without the need to spend billions of dollars on new roads, bridges and tunnels."

Millennials have proven quite open to these changes: "people in the 18-to-34 age group are more likely than those of other generations to choose the most practical transportation mode -- whether it's driving, public transit, biking or walking -- for each trip and that this flexible concept of mobility is spreading." It's also worth noting that out of car-sharing, bike-sharing, walking, and car ownership, "public transportation is ranked among millennials as the best mode to connect to all other modes."

In denser urban areas where it makes more sense, the car-free option is gaining traction as an economical choice. "[Young people] are more likely to cite the need to save money and avoid traffic, as well as environmental considerations, as motivations for their transportation choices and routines."