By: Jasmine Micijevic

Fort Collins, Colo.- Growing up in the burgeoning suburban town of Parker, Colorado, as a young teenager with a relentlessly overprotective mother fearful of other young adults’ driving habits, I became addicted to walking. The problem, I soon found, was that despite the ample sidewalks and freshly manicured grass in every town across America, I had nowhere to walk to. The most riveting adventure I could take was the 40-minute walk to Target, which became relatively uninspired after around the second time I attempted it.

This image shows a suburban Target. Photo by: Freight Waves (Shuttershock)

Even I had it better than my friends without driver’s licenses who lived in the upper-class neighborhoods tucked away in the outskirts of the town, secluded from anything remotely interesting or cultural (besides a sprawling members-only golf course, of course) with which to fill their free time. Wandering around my neighborhood day after day in the summers with nothing more stimulating than HOA-regulated grass and gardens of petunias I recognized as transplants from the local grocery store to look at, I wondered how so many people could endlessly criticize teenagers in this culture and age for spending so much time staring at a screen when our society has stolen away the most compelling aspect of living in a community: the experiences you can have simply by stepping outside.

Bike to Work Day June 27, 2018. Photo by: Austin Humphreys

Car centrism is dominant in the United States – in 2021, 91.7% of households reported owning at least one vehicle with nearly 60% owning two or more. However, existing evidence overwhelmingly suggests a positive correlation between the ability to have unique experiences or connect with the place you live without needing to drive and overall happiness and life satisfaction.

A study conducted in Phoenix, Arizona found that “residents living in more objectively walkable neighborhoods reported higher life satisfaction,” even when other factors, such as safety and sociability, were taken into account. Similarly, in a study examining major cities in Greece, research revealed that walking and cycling are consistently associated with the highest satisfaction, whether or not time is controlled for.

One such town that touts this infrastructure is Fort Collins, Colorado, home to Colorado State University. Fort Collins is one of only five platinum-certified bicycle-friendly communities in the United States, where it is often faster or more convenient to bike than to drive. Although cars are still present within the city, it is not uncommon to see sidewalks bustling with pedestrians and bike lanes full of cyclists despite road traffic or time of day.

The accessibility of such activity combined with the vibrant and diverse opportunities for exploration and experience throughout the city generates an overwhelming sense of belonging and familiarity in many residents that lends itself to higher overall satisfaction. The Fort Collins transit agency is also supporting an initiative to temporarily keep its public transportation fare-free and accessible to all and is “currently involved in a study to determine whether to remain fare-free on a permanent basis.” Removing fares is a move towards equity and inclusion, and in tandem with well-developed bus routes and systems, it is yet another move to make the city more accessible.

Most residents own a car, but it is not unattainable to live there without some form of private motorized transportation, offering all residents the opportunity to increase their personal sustainability, health, and sense of connection. Although the success of public transit and walkability is not the primary determinant of life satisfaction in Fort Collins, it is an indispensable part of its infrastructure that contributes to residential happiness and place attachment. It may not be realistic to remove cars from our society entirely, but to implement this idea across the country would presumably serve as an undeniable improvement in public happiness.