Transit, biking and walking options could keep millennials in Wisconsin

If we want Wisconsin's young adults to stay here—and improve the quality of life for everyone in our state—we should offer better transportation options.

 

If we want Wisconsin’s young adults to stay here—and improve the quality of life for everyone in our state—we should offer better transportation options.

A survey of more than 600 college students on 24 Wisconsin campuses, released by WISPIRG Foundation on Feb. 12, found that 75 percent of students said it was important to them to live in a place where they can get around without a car.

“Car culture no longer represents the ‘American Dream’ for many young people,” said Emma Fisher, WISPIRG Foundation organizer and lead author of the report. “By rethinking our transportation spending priorities, we could make Wisconsin more attractive to the young people that our communities need to thrive.”

Rather than wasting money on highway expansions, Wisconsin should invest in transit, walking and biking infrastructure. Communities that offer a variety of ways to get around—like Madison, Eau Claire and La Crosse—are successfully attracting young people while making life there better for everyone, the report finds.

Read about the study here

Photo Caption: The future of transportation is not cars—younger generations want cheaper, healthier, more environmentally friendly alternatives for getting around.

Photo Credit: Richard Hurd via Flickr