By David Kim
Prioritizing climate, equity, health and safety — and the movement of people over vehicles — could reshape our transportation landscape.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are essential for reducing carbon emissions. However, we will not meet our climate goals if we rely exclusively on EVs. Additionally, EVs don’t move the needle when it comes to reversing the disturbing trends of increasing roadway fatalities, stresses on human health and social inequity.
It’s time for city planners, engineers and policymakers to fundamentally rethink our priorities in terms of the built environment — how space is allocated and who benefits. That means taking politically difficult but important steps to prioritize the movement of people over vehicles.