How car-centric culture keeps you poor

Car-centric culture is the societal norm that prioritizes car ownership and use above all other forms of transportation. While cars can provide convenience and flexibility, this culture can also have significant financial consequences for individuals and society as a whole. Since the end of the Second World War, urban planners have built their cities, neighbourhoods and national infrastructure on the premise that easy access by car is the desired outcome in every instance.

Those decisions impoverish individuals, cities and communities. Life is less enjoyable and overall population health is reduced. All in a trade-off for some hard to quantify additional convenience which is only occasionally enjoyed.

One way car-centric culture keeps you poor is through the high costs associated with car ownership. In addition to the initial purchase price, car owners must also factor in ongoing expenses such as fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and parking fees. These costs can quickly add up and consume a significant portion of one's income.

Car-centric culture keeps you poor is through the limited economic opportunities it creates. Public transportation systems are often inadequate or non-existent in car-centric societies, making it difficult for individuals without cars to access employment, education, and other essential services. This can lead to limited job options and lower wages, perpetuating a cycle of poverty for those unable to fund the purchase and running of a car; a cycle of feeding money to the car for fear of falling into that trap for the remainder of the population.

Car-centric culture hugely contributes to environmental degradation, with significant long-term economic consequences. The burning of fossil fuels for transportation is a significant contributor to air pollution and climate change, leading to health problems, property damage, and economic costs associated with disaster response. The sheer number and frequency of extreme weather events in recent years have been directly responsible for massive economic damage - usually in countries least able to afford it. Developed countries - those most responsible for climate change and most likely to build society around the car - are now beginning to feel the pain too, as droughts, floods, wildfires and other extreme weather events become more and more frequent there too.

A society which is beholden to the car keeps its members poor in any number of ways, directly and indirectly; in the short-term and the long-term.  It's time for us to reconsider our car-centric culture and prioritize sustainable and affordable transportation options for all.