Wiki Wednesday: Vehicle-Miles Traveled

Vehicle-Miles Traveled (VMT) is the total number of miles driven by allresidential vehicles within a given time period and geographic area.

Land use -- namely sprawl development -- is the main culprit. Americansare living farther from work, school, shopping and basic services. Evenin higher density areas, where amenities may be closer to home, theroad framework can be punishing for pedestrians. It is nearlyimpossible to walk in areas that cater to cars instead of people.Autocentric street design therefore forces even more cars ontoroadways, which further impedes walkers and bicyclists. The viciouscycle continues and local governments turn to the only “quick fix” thatthey seem to know: build bigger highways (at enormous taxpayer expense)to accommodate the increased traffic.