Life Without Cars

By Author: Henry Ford
Total Articles: 189
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Since the discovery of motor vehicles, life for most Americans has changed. It has become easier to move from one place to another and on average Americans can be considered among people in the world who likes traveling. The invention of motor vehicles and development of the automotive industry in the 20th century led to the development of the concept of auto mobility. Americans like moving and to keep moving they must have cars. It can be therefore argued that the development of American auto industry greatly changed life for Americans. Cars become a part and parcel of our life and it has become difficult to live without them. Cars can therefore be considered to have to have been a blessing to most Americans. However, less than a century since automobiles became a part of Americans’ life, most people today laments that cars have been more of a curse than a blessing to the world. They have started seeing the dark side of cars and are now calling or alternative means of travel other than cars. Cars have had detrimental effects on the environment. Cars have been cited as the prime case of air pollution from emission ...
... of green house gases after burning of fossil fuels. In reality, cars the concept of auto mobility is now threatened and the whole industry and the world at large is threatened by climate change. As most people call for banning of cars, few people have ever thought how life could be without cars. We can say that the world is at a cross road where it has to live with the negative impacts of cars and at the same time have been forced to keep using cars since they support the economy. To understand the best proposition whether to live with cars or not, this study will look at possible impact of banning all cars in America.
Elimination of automobile would affect the social, cultural, and economic arrangements in the American society. America has been built to what it is today because of advancement of its social and economic arrangements that solely rely on cars. United States is considered to be a super power by virtue of its economic strength. From the basics, United States economy has grown due to availability of a good network of road that makes it possible to take goods from one place to another. American road transport has about 3.9 million miles of roads which are used to transport people and goods on daily bases (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2008). Basically, the growth of the economy is mainly pegged on good road network since it makes it possible to move people and goods. Road transport accounts for more than three quarters of transports system in the country. This implies that if all cars were banned today, there would be a large hole in the economy since it would become difficult to transport people and goods. In addition the auto industry remains one of the largest industries in the country. The Detroit Big three and other international manufacturers like Toyota employ millions of Americans and contribute positively to the economy. Until recently, the U.S auto industry has been the leading in the world. It has contributed positively to the development of United States economy. This means that if all cars are banned, it would mean the collapse of the entire auto motive industry. This would hurt the economy and almost lead to collapse of the economy.
Banning all cars would also have social and cultural impact on American society. American society is known to be very social. People gather different places for social functions and they use their cars. In other words, as people have become accustomed to the auto mobility, it would be difficult for them to visit their friends or go for their social meeting without cars. In addition, cars are not just used for movement but they also mark the social class Americans. They are used to express individuals’ social standing (Balish, 2006). This means that cars can be used to show social status. Being one of the indicators of individual social status, it means it would be difficult to live without cars and the social life would be hurt. Cars have also become a part and parcel of American life. It is deeply entrenched in the cultural life of most Americans such that banning of cars may take away a part of American culture. Americans own more cars that other people in the world. It has become a part of American culture to have more than one car or to change cars after every two years. This means that it is not just a social practice but it is something that is deeply entrenched in their culture. Banning of cars would also take away some of the elements of American pop culture. American pop culture is marked “pimped up” cars which are used to identify belonging to that particular group of savvy young people. This means that banning cars would remove one of the most attractive elements of American culture.
Banning cars may be simple to implement but it may end up being so difficult for Americans to adopt. Having been born in auto mobile culture, Americans have become so much attached to their cars such that it would take them a lot of efforts to adopt living without cars. Americans would be forced to make adjustments in order to function in an “automobilesss“society. The major adjustments that most Americans are likely to find difficult is moving by foot or using bicycles (Balish, 2006). Americans have grown so much used to cars such that even a short distance that they can move on foot has become difficult without cars. Cars appear to be legs for most Americans. Unlike in other countries like Japan where people are used to ridding on bicycles, it would be quite difficult for Americans to adapt to cycling without the comfort of their cars. Most Americans will have to adopt going to social gatherings on bicycles or on foot. For those who fear flying, they will have to get used to buying expensive air tickets or going by the train. Considering the way Americans have become used to cars, it would require individual efforts to adapt to life without cars.
Although it is difficult for Americans to make such adjustment, they can do it if forced. The only thing that lasts in the world is change and although it is hard to accept change, it is a destiny that most people would not evade (Balish, 2006). Before the 1920s, there were not cars and still people moved about their daily business. This means that there should be not reason why Americans should find it difficult to adapt to an “automobile-free” society. Most of them may resist at first because they may find it difficult to adapt to the changes but they would adopt the changes if forced.
I am among those who count losses rather than the blessings of cars. Seeing ho the world has changed in a span of one century because of industrialization, I feel that it is time to make change and build a better world for all. May be for us in United State life is just the same since we can wake up and fuel our cars and go about our business. Considering what is happening in other parts of the world, there are all reasons why we should consider banning cars and adopting another mode of transport. If I have to live in an “automobile-free” society, I would first start adapting to the change by learning how to ride a bicycle. I would then acquire my own bicycle and use it wherever I am going except in long distances where I would use train. This means that I would have to change in different ways in order to live in such a society. It means giving up some of my luxuries for a better tomorrow.

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