Number of cars in U.S. shrunk for first time in 2009

In either a sign that U.S. citizens are switching to more sustainable means of transit or a reflection of the economic recession, more cars were taken off the road in 2009 than new cars were sold for the first time in history.

A report from the Earth Policy Institute argues that increasing population growth in urban areas as well as rising oil prices means that this trend is likely to continue until at least 2020. In 2009, the total automobile population in the U.S. decreased by 2 percent. By 2020, there could be as many as 20 percent fewer cars on the road.

Hopefully, these numbers are a sign that Americans are realizing and taking advantage of the benefits of sustainable transportation methods. For more on this story, click here.