Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Generation Y Giving Cars a Pass

We're winning...

This article for Yahoo News further reaffirms what we--as young people of today--know. Our current generation is undergoing and has undergone a paradigm shift in terms of how we view automobiles and mobility. This article discusses the paradigm shift that questions automobility but it does not discuss the paradigm shift that has embraced bicycles in major cities across the U.S. For that I'd recommend getting your hands on data from your local MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization), or, for a less technical, more fun yet informative read, I'd recommend the excellent book by Jeff Mapes, Pedaling Revolution. In the meantime...:

Generation Y Giving Cars a Pass

The generation gap is a growing, long-term headache for automakers.

By Jim Ostroff

Selling cars to young adults under 30 is proving to be a real challenge for automakers. Unlike their elders, Generation Yers own fewer cars and don’t drive much. They’re likely to see autos as a source of pollution, not as a sex or status symbol.

Motorists aged 21 to 30 now account for 14% of miles driven, down from 21% in 1995...

“It’s a matter of mind-set far more than affordability,” says William Draves, president of Learning Resources Network, an association that studies consumer trends and provides education and training services...

Moreover, in survey after survey, Gen Yers say that they believe cars are damaging to the environment. Even hybrid electric vehicles don’t seem to be changing young consumers’ attitudes much.

Bold emphasis added. The complete version of the article can be found here.

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