Dismantling the Automobile: Reconsidering American Ideology & Cities

The introduction and emphasis of the automobile in the early 20th century changed the course of the development of American cities. It gave rise to suburbia and the American Dream. The infrastructure that supported the automobile shaped and defined the extents of the city. The automobile allows for the extents of urban environments to grow outwards threating agricultural lands that support the nation. Emerging social trends and advancements in transportation could be the next step toward a healthier and more sustainable urban environment. As nations all over the world discuss and debate the means and methods for achieving sustainable futures, society’s dependence on an outdated machine designed for consumption seems counterintuitive and hypocritical. It’s time to reconsider American cities and infrastructure.