Transportation

Copy this Transportation Analysis from Xerox

By Ryan McGreal
Published January 29, 2014

Some inspiring transportation analysis from, um, Xerox Corporation, which is planning for the changing ways that Millennials think about transportation.

In this post by Parker Williams, senior vice president of transportation solutions at Xerox, the Millennial generation wants a multi-modal transportation system that lets them "choose the most practical method of transportation for each trip".

Millennials also use more public transit than older cohorts, and are less inclined to obtain a drivers licence or buy a car. They prefer to "spend their money on experiences," and in any case, their preferred social networks emphasize the kind of two-way connectivity that is impractical and unsafe for someone driving. (Contrast radio, which people can passively consume while driving.) The report also notes the much-cited fact that overall driving in North America peaked in 2004 and has been in decline ever since.

Altogether, it points to a near future in which driving becomes progressively less important a part of the transportation mix, while public transit and the walking/cycling connections it supports become more important for quality of life.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By Keith (anonymous) | Posted January 30, 2014 at 12:42:26

You mean an organization which is trying to grow its market share in transportation technology solutions is writing posts encouraging the exact thing they try to make cash off of?

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By mikeonthemountain (registered) | Posted January 30, 2014 at 14:39:16 in reply to Comment 97284

Could it be they are recognizing a demographic shift and availing of opportunities in that area?

If something is bad for the planet or is something that doesn't rock the boat and appeals to our gluttony and laziness while destroying the environment, it is a legitimate business enterprise? But if it's good for the planet it's a self serving agenda?

Automobile companies, cigarette companies, etc cetera, spent most of the 20th century socially engineering us into their desired behaviour.

I for one welcome some fresh new "self serving agendas" that will make our cities more pleasant to be in ;)

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