Carmaggedon Inspires a Reevaluation of Urban Transportation

Posted by Shayna Pollock on July 18, 2011

CEOs for Cities' Connectivity Challenge brought together urban leaders to discuss ways to build cities that are not dependent on cars. This past weekend, Los Angeles tried out car-free living in real-time. Thanks to construction work that shut down the 405 freeway, residents of Los Angeles had to spend the weekend without access to one of the city's largest highways. Despite warnings of mass traffic, "carmaggedon" did not materialize. The calm that ensued during the closing of a major highway begs cities to rethink transportation policy. Can cities operate without full access to cars? Los Angeles' experience, newly coined "Calmaggedon," should lead transportation planners and policy makers to look at cities with a renewed emphasis on transit, alternative transportation, and neighborhood walkability.