PROFILE OF THE '80'S (U.S. DEMOGRAPHICS, INCLUDING TRAVEL)

U.S. statistics are analyzed in terms of energy consumption in the 1980's under the following categories: economy, people, households, housing, workers, energy resources, automobiles, travel expenditure, and travel. Since U.S. petroleum reserves could be largely depleted by 1990 at current consumption and import rates, conservation and alternative energy sources must be a national priority in the 1980's. The small car will be the norm in view of policy supporting fuel efficiency and increased gasoline prices. A stabilization of petroleum use is expected, despite the 22 million more cars in 1990 over 1980, plus 20 million more drivers and 20% more trips. Motor fuel demand should stabilize at 122 billion gal./yr., with diesel fuel increasing to 33% of motor fuel consumption. Auto emissions will be greatly reduced. Carpools and vanpools will increase. The number of transportation handicapped people will increase 2% annually, especially among the over-65 age group. Total travel will increase by 20% in all areas, especially among single person, central city households using public transit. Upper income households will be able to maintain existing travel patterns in view of rising fuel costs, but lower income households may experience restricted mobility. Paratransit, bicycles, and mopeds will play an increasing role in transportation. Substitution of telecommunications for personal travel will develop more fully in the 1980's but will be unlikely to have a significant impact on either tripmaking or energy consumption.

• Corporate Authors:

  SG Associates, Incorporated

  4200 Daniels Avenue
  Annandale, VA  United States  22003

  Urban Institute

  2100 M Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20037
• Authors:
  • Spielberg, F
  • Ernst, U
  • Kemp, M
  • Olsson, M L
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 85 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carpools; Compact automobiles; Demographics; Forecasting; Fuel consumption; Households; Mobility; Travel patterns; Vanpools
• Old TRIS Terms: Small car
• Subject Areas: Energy; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00371501
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-030 603
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1983 12:00AM