America’s roads are already packed with traffic, and all signs point to the number of cars growing even more — especially in cities. According to a report released last month, 60 percent of the world’s population will likely live in cities by 2030. And automotive analysts expect the demand for cars to grow as more and more people enter the middle class.
Despite this, there are many signs that government entities are working to reduce the need for private car ownership — or in some cases, to eliminate it entirely. But to do so will require a lot of puzzle pieces to fall into place.
Steven Swartz, a co-author of the report by consultancy firm McKinsey and Co., said the key is for governments to be flexible and encourage innovative solutions. There’s a cocktail of solutions to specific problems brewing, and nobody knows for sure which ones will work and which ones will be the most important or useful.
