Going "car-lite" and cutting nonessential car travel can be an affordable, impactful choice. That may sound expensive, but even a used car in the US now costs about $32,000. Even a brand-new, high-end bike costs about 90% less than the average used car. Public transit costs vary, but one household can save $10,000 a year by using public transportation instead of a car. Smart's research shows that families with a car experience an average income growth of 1% every two years.

---

Persons: Sonja Langford, Charlotte , North Carolina —, Langford, she's, Peter Krull, Krull, Michael Smart, Smart, Langford isn't Organizations: Service, University of North, Transportation, Earth Equity Advisors, Tesla, Rutgers University, Subaru, Charlotte, Bloomberg, Research Locations: Wall, Silicon, Charlotte , North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Asheville , North Carolina, Los Angeles