Why 91% of Americans Own Cars: A Data Story

This interactive data story explores the deep-rooted relationship between car ownership and the built environment in the United States. By visualizing how cars are distributed across urban, suburban, and rural regions, the project reveals how limited walkability, infrastructure gaps, and socioeconomic disparities shape American transportation choices.
 
Users can interact with layered datasets showing:

• Car ownership rates by state and region

• Correlations between car dependency and poverty levels

• Walkability indexes across urban and rural zones

• Access to public transit in underserved areas
   

Through maps, charts, and contextual narratives, the story invites users to reflect on the question: Is car ownership truly a choice, or a necessity shaped by design?