Freedom to Move

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis indicates that reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through increased transportation choices could save the U.S. up to $201 billion in energy infrastructure and $5.9 trillion in vehicle ownership costs by 2050. The report contends that current car dependence is driven by industry lobbying from the auto, fossil fuel, and road-building sectors, which receive over 75 percent of transportation spending. UCS recommends investing in diverse transportation networks, applying equity and climate lenses to project prioritization, and making planning processes more democratic to benefit the 30 percent of Americans who do not drive.

• A transportation system that reduces driving and increases options is more cost-effective and beneficial for public health than the current car-dependent model. By 2050, such a system could save up to $201 billion in energy infrastructure, $128 billion in public health costs, and $5.9 trillion in vehicle ownership costs.
• Reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) significantly lowers the requirements for energy infrastructure and resources. In a 'High VMT Reduction' scenario by 2050, the U.S. could avoid 376 GW of electricity-generating capacity, 48 GW of grid energy storage, and 17,800 GW-miles of electricity transmission.
• Lowering VMT reduces the demand for critical materials and fuels. A high-reduction scenario would avoid the consumption of 131 billion gallons of gasoline and 1.5 million kilograms of hydrogen, while reducing lithium demand for electric vehicles by 530,000 metric tons between 2025 and 2050.
• The U.S. transportation system is heavily influenced by the 'highway lobby'—comprising the auto, fossil fuel, and road-building industries—which receives more than 75 percent of public and private transportation spending and spends over $100 million annually on lobbying.
• Car dependence creates significant social and economic inequities. Approximately 60 percent of people live in neighborhoods where housing and transportation costs are unaffordable; people of color are 14 percent more likely to live in these areas and spend 5 percent more of their income on these costs than White people.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2024). Freedom to Move. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/freedom-to-move-exec-summary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Freedom to Move. 2024. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/freedom-to-move-exec-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Freedom to Move |date=October 2024 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/freedom-to-move-exec-summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2024freedom, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Freedom to Move}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/freedom-to-move-exec-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }