What’s personal movement, you may ask? No, it’s not a new form of modern dance. Quite simply, it’s traveling from one place to another. It may be just you traveling, it may be you and your family or it may be you and something you’ve purchased on an errand.

I’ve spoken broadly about the benefits the Connector can bring to the Sacramento region. Now I’d like to get into some of the specifics, focusing first on the need for personal movement and the benefits the Connector will bring in that arena.

It’s no secret that Americans love their cars—the mobility cars provide, the independence, the ability to transport almost anything or anyone we want to, at any time and to almost any location. You can drive to work, run an errand, take your child to a music lesson or sports practice, visit friends, take a trip…the possibilities are almost endless. It’s a freedom most people don’t want to give up.

And, more than likely, the car will continue to be the main mode of transportation for people in the future. Cars will be cleaner and more efficient, because new technologies will allow us to clean up greenhouse gas emissions from cars in the same manner we cleaned up tailpipe emissions.

Some people say current (and yet-to-be developed) technologies that allow people to work, chat with friends and shop from the comfort of home will change the way we use cars—meaning people will take fewer trips. While new technologies may reduce or eliminate some of the trips people use their cars for, it isn’t likely that cars will be eliminated outright. People will still have a desire to move about independently, on their schedule and cars fulfill that need.

Roadways act as the mechanism that accommodates behavior—in this case, the desire for personal movement. Regardless of what the future brings in terms of technology, people will still have a desire to move about, and that’s one thing the Connector will provide: another, and perhaps better, option for personal movement. More on other forms of movement in future posts.