To Become 21st Century City, Los Angeles Plan Aims To Curb Car Culture

"The car capital of America is officially changing its tune."

Marking a major departure for a city known for its over-reliance on cars, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday evening approved a 20-year transportation plan that aims to encourage walking, biking, and public transit over automobiles.

"The car capital of America is officially changing its tune," wrote LA Weekly.

The 'Mobility Plan 2035,' described in the LA Times as "a sweeping policy shift," calls for hundreds of miles of new bicycle lanes, bus-only lanes, and other road redesigns throughout the city. It targets about 10 percent of the city's major streets for lane reductions.

ABC 7-Los Angeles reports that about 47 percent of trips taken in the city are less than 3 miles, and of those trips, 84 percent are taken by car. The city's Environmental Impact Report suggested the plan, which passed the council 12-2, would reduce the amount of car travel by 1.7 million miles a day.

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