Transportation
The Lessons of Holiday Traffic Congestion
The annual holiday gridlock reveals the failure of the American imagination when it comes to other transportation choices.
It’s Turkey Time in America, and you know the deal: Prepare for traffic hell.
More than 55 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles away from home for the Thanksgiving holiday, AAA predicts. This figure has been steadily rising; it is, once again, the highest since 2005. About 1.5 million people will be taking trains, buses, and various forms of public transportation to their destinations. Another 4.45 million Americans will fly to friends and family. The rest are driving. As we motor from suburb to suburb, back to little hometowns and over to new retirement communities, Thanksgiving exposes America’s utter dependence on automobility like no other holiday.