History Essays Examples - Automobile Journal

Automobile Journal

Economic Changes
The development of the automobile has acted as a driver to economic realignment in society. Automobiles have resulted in a redistribution of employment. The way people shop and interact has changed due to automobiles. The automobile dictates manufacturing priorities and city planning. City planners have incorporated car-parking areas in zoning laws. Space for roads and for parking has been created at the expense of sidewalks, increasing the dependence on the automobile and restricting employment opportunities for those not owning an automobile. The impetus for use of horses and railroads has been similarly reduced due to the use of the automobile.

Cultural Changes to Urban and Suburban Societies

Urban Societies. The urban landscapes have lost streetcars, cable cars and other forms of light rail in favor of diesel burning automobiles since the 1940s. Urban pedestrians have had to become more alert than before owing to the risk of accidents. Communities have become further apart geographically and psychologically as people have reduced activities like walking unless for exercise.
Suburban Societies. The growth in the number of automobiles has caused cities to grow outwards. Suburbs have developed at greater distances from downtown areas, as workers are able to commute from further distances. Automobiles and associated subsidies have allowed people to migrate to low-density residential areas.

Significance of Cars Today

Cars remain significant in the modern age. While environmentalists have raised alarms of global warming due to diesel fumes and carbon monoxide emissions from cars and have advocated mass transport systems to replace cars, the ease and flexibility of use of cars in commuting remains higher than alternate means of transport. As a result, cities continue to become over-populated with cars. Major cities have situations of gridlock where cars are packed on the streets and cannot move for hours. Planners worldwide are addressing the situation, and alternate means of transport such as monorail, metro systems and buses are making their comeback in cities.

Work Cited

Wikipedia. “Effects of the Car on Societies.” En.Wikipedia.org. n.d. Web. 21 Feb 2015.