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Why Do Millennials Drive Less Than Baby Boomers?
Mon 5th October 2020
Baby boomers have a different perspective on just about everything compared to millennials and driving isn’t different no at all. An average American spends 33 hours in their car each year, driving six thousand miles. However, there’s a huge divide between what millennials think about driving vs boomers. Did you know that 51% of millennials don’t believe owning a car is a worthy investment? Let’s dig more into this.
The Millennial Perspective on Owning a Car
Millennials think owning your own car is not worth the expense and all that traffic is such a headache. Boomers, on the other hand, are comfortable with the way things are. Millennials’ lives have been impacted by technology and they like things to happen instantly. They are more comfortable with phones. Also, most millennials prefer living close to the metropolitan areas where employment and other services are available at hand. They enjoy no-ownership commitment.
Geography Is to Blame
Some say it has nothing to do with age. Youngsters tend to live in urban areas and they like to see people in person rather than on their phones. They prefer renting instead of owning. Plus, owning a car is expensive. It’s also not necessary to own one if you live in a city where everything is accessible at a shorter distance. You could walk or ride on your bike to get the necessities.
You will find many boomers in cities such as Toronto, New York, and even London who don’t own cars. Even if they do, they don’t use them much. They have lots of alternatives, which also includes scooters or ridesharing.
On the other hand, in the suburbs boomers and youngsters who are car-dependent own a car. They have to drive because they don’t have much choice. So, it’s where you live, it doesn’t have to do with your age.
Demography Kicks In Too
Geography is not the whole story. If metropolitan regions are built where residents live in communities, this would eliminate the need for driving. This would make it possible for many to live without cars. However, this is not what most people want. Boomers like their time spent on driving. But Millennials don’t. Since boomers live in suburbs, finding parking is easier and free and driving is fuss-free, it makes sense they like it.
Millennials who live in the metropolitan areas just don’t want to take the pain of driving through all that traffic, then having to pay for the parking as well. They find it much easier to call a car through ridesharing apps such as Miles and reach their destination. This eliminates the worry out parking. Plus, owning a car comes with its own expenses such as maintenance, insurance, fuel, etc. Using ridesharing or public transport services means they don’t have to worry about all that. Hence millennials don’t admire ownership. They enjoy on-demand services more than boomers.
Bottom Line
Not only are millennials public-spirited but less materialistic than baby boomers. However, apart from these factors, it is also the geography because of which they prefer to drive less.
