Introduction
The rise of car dependency has deep historical roots. Post-war policies and economic incentives in North America sparked a gold rush for communities, the suburban experiment. Highways, the "veins" of our cities, were constructed to facilitate suburban living. The highways built connected the sprawling suburbs to the proper, hearty economic centres of the downtown core of these cities. However, these highways often split communities, leading to segregated neighbourhoods. They usually displaced racialized communities and divided cities by socioeconomic class.
Thought Leaders on Car Dependency
Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs are two influential figures in urban planning whose ideologies starkly contrast each other, particularly in their approach to car dependency and urban segregation. Robert Moses, known as the 'Master Builder,' transformed New York City in the mid-20th century. He championed the construction of highways and bridges, often bulldozing through established neighbourhoods, regardless of the social cost. His approach is emblematic of the era's car-centric urban planning that inadvertently led to social segregation.
Jane Jacobs, an urbanist and activist based in Toronto, strongly opposed Moses's approach. In her influential work "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," she criticized the high-speed, car-centric planning that Moses and his contemporaries promoted. Jacobs advocated for walkable neighbourhoods, mixed-use zoning, and community-based planning in Toronto and other cities, arguing that these approaches foster social interaction and inclusion.
Effects of Car Dependency on Communities
Car dependency has far-reaching effects, casting an isolating shadow over those excluded from the ability to own or operate a car. This dependency limits access to key resources such as jobs, healthcare, and education, perpetuating disparities based on race and socioeconomic class and fuelling a vicious cycle of inequality.
The stark reality of segregation resulting from car dependency is evident in cities worldwide. Residents living in these divided cities bear the brunt of the negative impacts of car dependency. Their stories are a poignant reminder of the need for equitable transportation systems. Not only this, but city dwellers pay exorbitant costs to maintain massive road infrastructure for suburbanite commuters to use, and suburban dwellers pay exorbitant fees for their utilities and public services to service a smaller population sprawled out. Ultimately, the city dwellers subsidize much of the cost for suburbanites from separate municipalities to come in and enjoy the big city.
A History of Displacement
Car dependency and racism are key factors contributing to this division. Hogan's Alley in Vancouver serves as an example. It was home to many of Vancouver's Black and African communities. Displacement policies affected this community starting in 1931 and continued until 1972, when the construction of the Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts led to their complete displacement. The viaducts were initially part of a larger highway expansion plan, later rejected by residents of an affluent white neighbourhood just a few blocks from Hogan's Alley. This is just one instance of forced displacement in Vancouver.
Another instance occurred in 1913 when the provincial government manipulated the Squamish residents of Sen̓áḵw village to surrender the remainder of their originally 80-acre reservation land, which had been partially expropriated for railway construction as early as 1886. The displaced residents were then relocated to the north shore. The site, now only 10.8 acres in size and bisected by the Burrard Bridge, was re-established as reservation land for the Squamish in 2002. It is now earmarked for an urban development project called Senakw, undertaken in partnership with the Squamish Nation. The project incorporates transit and walkability considerations into its design. Recognizing the relationship between car dependency and urban segregation is vital for fostering inclusive communities.
Community Engagement and Grassroots Movements
Addressing car dependency and urban segregation necessitates strong community involvement. Grassroots movements play a crucial role in advocating for inclusive and easily accessible urban environments, demonstrating the power of collective action in driving social change. This is what movements like Strong Towns aim to achieve.
Fortunately, many cities are already taking their first steps to break free from the shackles of car dependency. City planners are redesigning urban environments to prioritize walkability and public transportation. These initiatives not only reduce car dependency but also promote social integration. They are even tearing down large urban highways and viaducts to reveal space for a vibrant public community to reclaim. This is good not only for repairing communities from the damage of cars but also as a necessary way forward as cities deal with the hefty cost of replacing aging car infrastructure.
The Need To Rethink Transportation
Our goal should be to reduce this car dependency by understanding its impacts and advocating for inclusive urban planning and transportation policies. We can begin to pull apart these barriers in our cities and alleviate the many crises we face today as a society. We can work towards a future where our cities are not divided by the cold steel of highways but woven together by inclusive, accessible threads of transportation networks.