In a new study, researchers applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging.
Americans, it seems, have always been on the move. In fact, the U.S. is one of the most mobile countries in the world, with 71% of us having traveled internationally at some point in our lives. Perhaps it’s because we’re optimistic searchers: always looking for a better job, a different place, or a brighter tomorrow.
Transience is a part of the fabric of our national identity. It’s even codified in our coming-of-age myths: the 18-year-old who flees her small hometown to head to a big university; the 20-year-old who goes on an overseas journey to find himself; and the 21-year-old who joins the military, hoping to see some of the world.
Nothing symbolizes that “urge for going” more than car travel. But such travel has been changing over the past several decades. By the dawn of the 1940s, America had fully embraced the automobile. As of 1941, about 88% of U.S. households had a family car, and that number was rising. After World War II, car travel really surged. Now, however, a new study on urban travel reveals that although private automobiles continue to be the dominant travel mode in American cities, the share of car trips has slightly and steadily decreased since its peak in 2001. In contrast, the share of public transit, nonmotorized and taxicab trips has consistently increased. I see that as a positive development for the environment.
Travel by car has been changing over the past several decades. In 1941, about 88% of U.S. households had a family car. By 2022, 91.7% had at least one. But the share of car trips has been decreasing since a peak in 2001.
And there’s more good news regarding our travels: researchers say we should forget about retinol night creams. Traveling could be the best way to defy premature aging.
How urban travel has changed
Published in the journal Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment in March 2023, a recent study on America’s urban travel trends conducted by scientists from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, shows how travel behaviors now vary across age, ethnicity, gender, home ownership, income and life-cycle stages. It compares changes in trip distance, trip frequency, travel modes and vehicle ownership among a range of socioeconomic groups using nationwide travel survey data since 1977.
The most notable trend found is that although private automobiles continue to prevail in American cities, the share of car trips has dropped since a 2001 peak. On the other hand, the percentage of transit, nonmotorized and taxicab (including ride-hailing) trips has grown.
Researchers say that those of Hispanic descent in the U.S. have higher carpooling rates (48% of their total trips) compared to those of non-Hispanic whites (41.3%).
Those in the lowest income group (with household incomes of less than $25,000 per year), who were more likely to be minorities and without cars, were heavily reliant on transit—especially buses—to fulfill their mobility needs. Their daily trip frequencies and daily miles traveled were considerably lower than those in the higher income groups. Mobility challenges in the lowest income group were more severe in small and midsize cities, where the supply of transit is more limited than in large cities.
Among the study’s other findings were:
• Non-Hispanic whites are the most auto-oriented ethnicity group, with 81.5% of their trips taken by automobile; followed by Hispanics, with cars used in 80.2% of their trips.
• Hispanics had higher rates of carpooling (48% of their total trips) compared to those of non-Hispanic whites (41.3%).
In the United States, Blacks ranked highest in bus transit trips (5.8%), and Asians were at the top in rail transit trips (2.2%).
• Blacks scored the highest in bus transit trips (5.8%), while Asians were the highest in rail transit trips (2.2%). Asians also had the highest share of nonmotorized trips (17.7%), and Hispanics had the lowest share of nonmotorized trips (13.1%).
• Females had slightly higher shares of automobile trips than males (80.6% vs. 78.7%); specifically, females had a higher share of carpooling than males (45.2% vs. 39.6%). Males had a higher share of solo driving than females (39.1% vs. 35.4%). They also had higher shares of bicycle trips than females (1.6% vs. 0.7%).
• Nonmotorized trips for Blacks and whites were comparable (about 14%); however, whites had a much higher share of cycling trips than Blacks (1.3% vs. 0.5%, respectively).
Nationally, although the share of taxicab trips was similar across different racial profiles, it was lowest among whites at 0.5%.
• Although the share of taxicab trips was comparable across different racial profiles, it was lowest among whites, at 0.5%.
• For homeowners, from 2009 to 2017, solo driving trips decreased from 42.3% to 40.1%; and carpooling trips increased from 43.8% t to 44.7%. Renters exhibited the opposite trend: solo driving trips increased from 30.5% to 32.1%, and carpooling trips decreased from 41.6% to 38.8%.
• The average miles traveled per day for the lowest income group was 36% lower (14.3 miles vs. 19.5 miles) than the second-lowest income group ($25,000 to $49,999 per year).
Most older adults in the U.S. heavily rely on driving and are not regular cyclists, ride-hailing users or transit patrons.
• The highest income group made 31.4% of the total peak-hour transit trips but only 22.1% of the nonpeak-hour transit trips; the lowest income group made only 28.7% of the peak-hour transit trips but 43% of the total nonpeak-hour transit trips.
• Most older adults heavily relied on driving and are not regular cyclists, ride-hailing users or transit patrons.
The researchers state that many different factors may be contributing to this general trend of “peak and decline.” These include robust nonmotorized and transit infrastructures in urban neighborhoods and college towns, higher gasoline prices and the rise of online retailers, such as Amazon and Uber Eats; as well as shared mobility options, such as ride-hailing, and bike- and scooter-sharing.
Certain factors result in a strong propensity to use an automobile for most trips. One of them is having children.
In addition, working from home and flexible working schedules have been gaining popularity. The share of Americans working from home increased from 3.3% in 2000 to 4.3% in 2009, and to 5.2% in 2017. The researchers suggest post-COVID-19 American cities will see further increases in the share of working-from-home arrangements.
Certain factors, however, still result in a strong propensity to use an automobile for most trips. They include some combination of households earning more than $25,000, owning a home, owning two or more vehicles, and having children. Examining such differences in travel patterns, conclude the researchers, can help policymakers to better evaluate the effects of existing transportation services and infrastructure developments, to identify the subgroups that deserve special attention for future transport plans, and to design more sustainable and equitable transport policies at local, state and federal levels.
How pleasure travel delays rapid aging
Most of us know all too well that aging is an irreversible process. But while it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down. And travel might be one way to do it.
Tourism typically exposes people to new surroundings and relaxing, physical activities. Moderate exercise is beneficial to the bones, joints and muscles in addition to supporting the body’s anti-wear-and-tear system.
The term entropy is defined as a process of degradation or running down or a trend to disorder; it means the general direction of the universe toward death and disorder. Now, for the first time, an interdisciplinary study by researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia that was published in the Journal of Travel Research in August 2024 has applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging.
The entropy perspective suggests that tourism could mitigate entropy increase and enhance individuals’ mental and physical wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction, and the fostering of positive emotions.
Novel settings boost our mental abilities, especially creativity and cognitive flexibility. By exposing ourselves to new cultures and experiences, our brains develop new neural connections, improving our creative thinking and adaptability capacity. Leisurely physical activities—such as climbing, cycling, hiking and walking—help alleviate chronic stress, boost metabolism, dampen overactivation of the immune system, expedite nutrient transport, improve blood circulation and encourage normal functioning of the self-defense system. This reaction improves the body’s ability to perceive and defend itself against external threats. Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration are released, promoting the self-healing system’s functioning. In other words, the self-defense system becomes more resilient.
Whether we venture across town or farther afield, experiencing novel settings and gaining new perspectives boosts our mental abilities and slows the aging process.
Engaging in recreation potentially releases tension and fatigue in the joints and muscles. This relief helps maintain the body’s metabolic balance and increases the anti-wear-and-tear system’s effectiveness. Organs and tissues can then remain in a low-entropy state. Thus, travel as therapy could serve as a groundbreaking health intervention when viewed through an entropy lens.
How all travel benefits our bodies and our abode
While lately, Americans seem to be becoming more rooted (more widespread Internet use and, likely, all forms of advanced information and communication technologies contribute to people remaining in place), our overall story is still one of migration. We like to wander, and it’s good for us, mentally, physically and emotionally. It could even delay the aging process. And whether we venture across town or farther afield, gaining new perspectives never hurts.
And if we can travel in a way that’s better for the Earth—more carpooling and mass transit—we all benefit.
Here’s to finding your true places and natural habitats,
Candy
