The Impact of the Car in Society

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Every day we see them. Every day we hear them. Every day we interact with them. Cars have taken over the world. It was 1807 when the first combustion engine was created and it was considered a complete failure. It only took 200 years for the vehicle to revolutionize the way we live. Many use the car as a daily commuter, or to run to the grocery store or to travel across the country. With over 1 billion cars worldwide they are a big influence. The car has allowed urban sprawl to be possible. The economy has been affected by the car. The car has a bad side, it hurts our environment. So where does the car lie? Do the benefits out way the negatives? The definition of urban sprawl is "the uncontrollable expansion of urban areas." So how has the car influenced this? The Ford model T is known as the unofficial first success of a car. With over 15 million unit produced it was bound to have an impact. The Model T could go 200 miles without having to fill up on gas and its top speed was 45mph. The city was the main hub for jobs during this time. No longer would you have to live in the city or close to it. You can hop in your Model T and get into the city relatively fast. As cars have advanced they have got faster and capable of going much further on one tank of gas. This has lead to the alarmingly quick rate of urban sprawl. It has such an impact that the jobs have moved out from the city because people are able to travel great distances because of cars. But why move out to the urban area? There a couple reasons, one being it is usually cheaper to live in urban areas. Land is a lot less expensive. Many people enjoy being able to have a lawn and space between you and your neighbor, which is nonexistent in the city. W... ... middle of paper ... .... The economy has boosted because of the car. It created jobs and it produced giant trade markets. In the big picture the car is a great invention. It challenges designers to build smart, strong, and reliable. It has enable humans to travel like never before. The car will only progress and get more useful. One small idea can change the way we live. References: "The Unpopular, Successful Auto Bailout." The American Prospect. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. Gimbel, Barney. "The Richest City in the World." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 12 Mar. 2007. Web. 02 May 2014. "Enviromental Impact of Cars." Impact of Cars on the Environment. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2014. Amadeo, Kimberly. "How Gas Prices Get High." About.com US Economy. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014. Hartman, Dennis. "The Effects of Cars on the Economy." EHow. Demand Media, 26 Jan. 2010. Web. 02 May 2014.

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