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Earlier this week, I came across an intriguing headline in The New York Times: “Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving.”  As aNew Jersey Realtorwhose home-buying  clients tend to be New Yorkers looking for urban convenience along with leafy yards and good schools, I’ve been a witness to this phenomenon locally. Apparently it’s happening nationwide as well.

According to Phineas Baxandall, the author of a report mentioned in the article, “Millennials  (those born in the 1980s or ’90s) aren’t driving cars”.  This is a major change from past generations, when teenagers everywhere saw a drivers license as a symbol of independence. A drop in the number of  licenses issued nationwide is partly the result of a weak economy (fewer jobs to drive to, a desire to save on gas), but also the result of increased environmental awareness and improved mass transit options nationwide. On the other end of the age spectrum, Baby Boomers are “aging out of the daily work force and need to commute less,” according John Schwartz, the author of the article.

I believe that the trend toward increased use of buses, trains and feet (for walking and biking) will continue. And whether you are a Millennial, a Boomer, or somewhere in between, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I’d love to show you homes in New Jersey communities such as Montclair, Glen Ridge and Maplewood that are already less car-dependent.