The Asphalt Labyrinth: An Examination of the Impact of Transit on American Cities
Date
2023-04
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Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa
Abstract
The dominance of automotive transit in the
United States cannot be denied; we drive more than any
other mode of transportation, and ubiquity of automotives
has spread to a cultural level. The pervasiveness
of this infrastructure impacts nearly every aspect of our
lives, especially for those living in urban environments.
The economic burden of private transport is often overlooked,
be that maintenance or opportunity cost for not
owning a vehicle. Environmental costs involved in the
mass usage of fossil fuels have global impacts like climate
change and local impacts like reduced air quality and acid
rain. The social aspect comes from the tendency to design
American cities around cars, not people, eliminating
necessary social spaces, reinforcing harmful aspects of
American personal ideology, and exacerbating issues of
classism. This paper explains these issues and describes
how an increased investment in infrastructure can remedy
those issues and improve citizens’ quality of life. This
paper was produced in Dr. Lauro’s AWR 201 course.
Description
Recommended citation: Katsulos, Theo. “The Asphalt Labyrinth: An Examination of the Impact of Transit on American Cities.” Q: Journal of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry, vol. 4, 2023, pp. 25-35. https://doi.org/10.48497/GGSV-R204
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Keywords
Automotive, America, Identity, Infrastructure, Petter Næss, Moshe Safdie
Citation
Katsulos, Theo. “The Asphalt Labyrinth: An Examination of the Impact of Transit on American Cities.” Q: Journal of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry, vol. 4, 2023, pp. 25-35. https://doi.org/10.48497/GGSV-R204