The Overhead Wire

Keeping the Zombies at Bay

Anna Zivarts argues that urban highways inflate vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and make transit slower, urging the new mayor to embed VMT reduction in project planning. She stresses that alternative modes must offer equal or better convenience, speed, and safety to win public support. Recent backlash against bike and transit upgrades highlights the need for tangible social proof of their benefits. Successful examples like bus lanes, Caltrain electrification, and congestion pricing demonstrate how multimodal improvements can cut VMT and boost ridership.