Understanding the Persistence of Car Dependence and Its Social Impacts

Viewing car dependence as a socially and institutionally constructed phenomenon, I examine why it persists and how it shapes social outcomes. In addition to my research on aging and transportation, I investigate the mechanisms through which car-dependent development reinforces social inequalities and limits opportunities for different populations. This line of research examines topics such as the relationship between car dependence and employment outcomes, as well as the implications of car-dependent environments for policing justice. I also investigate how local governments balance economic development, climate action, and mobility goals, and how political institutions and local economic structures can reinforce car-dependent development and constrain transportation transitions.

Taken together, this line of research provides empirical evidence on why many cities, communities, and social groups remain highly dependent on private vehicles, and why transitioning away from car dependence is particularly challenging for many local governments, especially those with limited institutional and financial capacity.