America has been the home of the car. From the days of Henry Ford, the car has been more than welcome in the United States. It’s part of the American identity, at least in most places. The thing about the United States is that it’s really, really big. There are places in the United States that are very different to the rest of the country. And Monhegan Island is one of those places. The island in Maine has banned all cars, even EV’s like Tesla’s. A place in America that does not use and does not want the car is a strange thing in today’s society. But, there it is.
Are we are headed to a future without the need for a car?
The automotive market is massive. The amount of money being spent on the car is insane. What would your life look like without the range of expenses that a car brings? The reality is that most of us do not need a car, we simply choose the convenience of having one. Most major cities have some sort of public transport system, whether it be buses, trains or metro’s and the ever reliable taxi.
In cities like New York or London, a large percentage of the residents choose not to own a car. The public transport is sufficient for their needs. However, the need to explore and go anywhere at anytime was just too much to pass up for most. The amount of cars in most urban areas creates huge traffic jams that keep people trapped in their cars for hours on end.
The concept of a place that does not allow the car is a strange one. But there are some places in America. The world has become fully aware of the damage that a car does to the environment as a whole. So certain places, Like Monhegan Island, not only discourage the use of a car, they ban cars entirely on the island. The stillness and tranquility has become legendary over the years.
What and where is Monhegan Island? Can I go there?
Monhegan Island is in Maine, a short eleven mile trip on a ferry. The island has been the ideal getaway for the traveler looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The ferry does about three trips a day and all forms of cars are banned. The affinity to New England is not lost as the Redsox caps are on everyone’s heads.
The age of the island means that when the island was being populated they used horse carts to move heavy building equipment and materials. Since building the few buildings that inhabit the island, there has been no need to build more. There aren’t even any paved roads. The island has long been the destination of choice for some of the world’s best artist and painters.
The iconic lighthouse has been seen in a number of famous paintings. The world is searching for the next solution in the energy crisis. Places like Monhegan Island prove that progress isn’t always good. More of something does not make it better, in fact the more cars the world makes and sells, the worse off the climate and our collective futures are as a result.
What will the world choose as the next step in the mobility evolution?
The innovation that is happening in the automotive sector is truly amazing, however, Monhegan Island is evidence that we are capable of going backwards and take the car out of our everyday lives. The climate crisis is a direct result of the world’s reliance on the destructive fossil fuel industry. From the industrial revolution we have been damaging the planet we rely on to make our lives significant. At least there are some places in the United States and around the world where the car is not welcome. The peace and quiet that Monhegan Island offers is the balance and order that most of our lives are lacking.
