Skip to main content

America THINKS 2014 mobility survey

The most recent America THINKS survey from civil engineering consulting and construction management firm HNTB examines the public’s views on the country’s current and future mobility trends, finding that many Americans fear the potential for local infrastructure failure and see a clear need for the industry to offer the spark of innovation moving forward. The survey polled a random nationwide sample of 1,152 Americans in 2013 using an e-mail invitation and online survey. Nine in ten (90 per cent) Ame
February 10, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The most recent America THINKS survey from civil engineering consulting and construction management firm HNTB examines the public’s views on the country’s current and future mobility trends, finding that many Americans fear the potential for local infrastructure failure and see a clear need for the industry to offer the spark of innovation moving forward.

The survey polled a random nationwide sample of 1,152 Americans in 2013 using an e-mail invitation and online survey.

Nine in ten (90 per cent) Americans think at least one mode of US transportation needs a spark of innovation, and an overwhelming majority (93 per cent) think at least one US transportation mode is in need of repair.

A 95 per cent majority thinks it is important to rebuild physical infrastructure so it survives increasingly intense weather patterns; 59 per cent believes this construction is very crucial.

While many Americans see a need for a proactive attitude, with nearly two in three, or 65 per cent fearing that a local infrastructure failure will occur within a year, nearly seven in ten (69 per cent) think construction of physical infrastructure in the US is typically done after a natural disaster to repair damage rather than beforehand to prevent it.

In the world of wheels, nearly nine in ten Americans travel by car, with less than one in four using public buses and even fewer travelling on subways, light rail or bicycles. Asked how they would change their routine if local mobility were seamless, nearly two in three (63 per cent) think the modes of transportation in their area need to be more efficient, and more than half (53 per cent) think it is difficult to access different modes of transportation.  Seventy per cent would alter their actions if local mobility was seamless, with many taking public transit more and driving less, with some even walking more.

Looking toward the future, with the rise of new technologies, many Americans think transportation should be different 20 years from now. Ideas range from more options for green travel, less reliance on personal vehicles and automated transportation to high-speed rail and self-driving cars.

Related Content

  • August 29, 2014
    Smart cars, smart roads seen as boosting safety
    A new America THINKS survey from national infrastructure solutions firm HNTB Corporation, finds Americans craving more technology to keep them safe and informed when they hit the road. And many Americans would be willing to part with more cash to implement a connected vehicle system, which would allow drivers to be notified about road conditions and potential dangers electronically in real-time. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans think using transportation technology that keeps drivers informed is m
  • April 2, 2015
    How British drivers compare in European responsible driving survey
    With 16 million UK motorists set to take to the roads this Easter weekend, a new European survey finds that risky driving habits and failure to respect the rules are on the increase. The annual survey carried out for Vinci Autoroutes Foundation for Responsible Driving by IPSOS examined the behaviour of drivers from ten European countries. Each year, this survey draws up an inventory of driving practices and trends, allowing closer targeting of methods to prevent irresponsible driving and promote safer ro
  • October 20, 2016
    Canada is’ ill-prepared to keep an aging population moving’
    Canada has not adequately addressed the changing transportation needs of seniors, leaving many without a range of accessible, affordable and appropriate transportation options to support active and healthy living, according to a new Conference Board of Canada report from the Canadian Alliance for Sustainable Health Care and the Centre for Transportation and Infrastructure. This publication examines how seniors currently meet their transportation needs and preferences, changes in transportation strategie
  • August 2, 2013
    Half of passengers ‘would pay for better technology’
    David Crawford considers the finding of a passenger attitude survey in nine cities worldwide. Three quarters of regular users of public transport in nine capital and other major cities worldwide believe that electronic ticketing would make travel easier; while an overwhelming 92% would welcome paperless travel in any form, according to a recent consumer survey from global management consultants Accenture. Of the 4,500 urban travellers aged over-18 who were quizzed, some 90% routinely used public transport.