Anti-car Quote by Edward Abbey
““How to pry the tourists out of their automobiles, out of their back-breaking upholstered mechanized wheelchairs and onto their feet, onto the strange warmth and solidity of Mother Earth again? This is the problem which the Park Service should confront directly, not evasively, and which it cannot resolve by simply submitting and conforming to the automobile habit.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Problem of the Automobile” in Desert Solitaire, 1968
Abbey criticizes how cars dominate natural spaces, urging park services to encourage visitors to walk and reconnect with the earth.
In simple terms: Cars keep people from experiencing nature directly.
Key Takeaway
Promote walking and direct engagement with natural environments.
Themes
environment
conservation
urbanization
human-nature relationship
Mood
reflective
advocacy
Type
prescriptive
philosophical
When to use this quote
- national parks
- urban tourism
- environmental education
- infrastructure planning
Key Concepts
sustainability
public policy
recreation
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives can balance access and immersion?
- How can parks accommodate diverse mobility needs?
A Different Perspective
Reducing car use may conflict with accessibility needs for some visitors.
