Cambridge wanted a big drop in car ownership by 2020. That hasn’t exactly happened

Car eschewers in Cambridge<br/Image via the Boston Globe

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

 

Cambridge sought a big drop in local car ownership by 2020.  That hasn’t exactly happened

 

The Boston broadsheet reports that efforts to reduce car ownership in of America’s most transit-friendly cities have not worked out as it was hoped that they would.

 

Stuck in traffic
A Bloomberg.com file photo image

Specifically, Cambridge is “all but certain to fall short of its 2020 goal of reducing the ratio of cars owned by Cambridge residents by 15 percent from 1990 levels.”

 

In the meanwhile, however, City of Quincy officials continue to allow – if not also encourage significant – reductions from proven building code off-street parking requirements in parking scarce Quincy. 

 

At least for certain campaign fund donation generous developers, that is.

 

Drone delivery
A Walmart image

That and how city officials have to date failed to succeed at bringing to Quincy the sorts of things locals have to drive out of town to do and/or obtain. 

 

For example, a cineplex, a wider range of live entertainment than bar bands, a better assortment of hands=on shopping opportunities, a hospital and other such things a city the size of Quincy usually has.

 

New full-size City Hall VIP city ride
A Quincy Quarry News file photo

That and how Quincy’s City Hall needs to better appreciate how both locals as well as City Hall itself have long been opting for moving up to ever-larger SUV’s instead of gleefully opting to ride public transit or at least downsize to Priuses. 

 

Source: Cambridge wanted a big drop in car ownership by 2020. That hasn’t exactly happened

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