Costs of the Car Economy

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According to a 2019 study by Harvard, the public cost of the car economy is $5,645 per person per year. (The private cost is $6,000/year per car.)

Together, the cost of maintaining the U.S. car economy is $3.5 trillion per year.

• 331.9 million people x $5,645 public costs = $1.87 trillion per year.
• 272 million cars x $6,000 private costs = $1.63 trillion per year.
• $1.87 trillion + $1.63 trillion = $3.5 trillion per year.

In the communities with significant bike infrastructure, the public cost is $150 per person per year. (The private cost is $500/year per bike.)

In the communities significant public transit, the operating costs are $1,230 per person per year. (The private cost of transit is $720/year per rider).

Together, the cost of a bike and transit economy in the U.S. is $0.862 trillion per year.

• 331.9 million people x $650 public + private bike costs = $0.215 trillion per year.
• 331.9 million people x $1950 public + private transit costs = $0.647 trillion per year.
• $0.215 trillion + $0.647 trillion = $0.862 trillion per year.

Want to calculate the costs of car infrastructure or bike/transit infrastructure in your community? Try the calculator.