U.S. traffic volume decreases--first time since 1983

According to data from the Federal Highway Administration, the amount of traffic on U.S. roads and highways has leveled off since about 2005 and has now even decreased slightly.

This is the longest pause in the increase in U.S. vehicle miles traveled since at least 1983.

Interestingly, travel is down on both urban and rural roads.

In the North Central Region--which Missouri belongs to--travel in January 2008 was down 1.7% compared with the same month in 2007.

That doesn't sound like much--but the overall trend 1983-2004 was an increase of a percent or two each year. So to turn that around is a remarkable change.

Why is this relevant to bicycling?

Well, we've telling planners, engineers, and officials for years that when fuel prices go up, Americans will start cutting the miles they drive and looking for other options.

"No way." "Impossible." "Missourians will never give up their cars."

Well, there is a way, it is possible, and Missourians are looking for options to more single-occupant motor vehicle driving right now.

And if only our transportation were designed to give Missourians real transportation choice, you can bet that even more citizens would be choosing some of those alternative choices now.