This graph charts a curious trend. It appears that fewer and fewer young Americans are taking to the highways.

The graph compares the percent of that population with driver’s licenses in 1978 with those in 2008. In 1978 the numbers of licensees is noticably higher. What can account for such a change in culture in thirty years?

As Richard Florida explains:

Younger people today — in fact, people of all ages — no longer see the car as a necessary expense or a source of personal freedom. In fact, it is increasingly just the opposite: not owning a car and not owning a house are seen by more and more as a path to greater flexibility, choice, and personal autonomy.

Once upon a time, owning cars and houses were seen as a way to distinguish those who were “savers” from those who were “spenders”.  Today these categorizations seem less relevant.

Movements in many major cities point to new interest in the use of public transportation, improved infrastructure, and construction of bike lanes. This trend can imply something beneficial – with a new generation of young people not as concerned with using the car as their primary source of transportation.

This generation might be more supportive of efforts to cut back reliance on oil and harness new potential energy saving technologies.

Less driving could be a driving force in the way we treat the environment.