The automotive money pit

Most families don’t think twice about car ownership—it’s just part of American life. But the math no longer adds up. With costs topping $12,000 per vehicle each year and most trips under three miles, many households are quietly rethinking what it means to get around. Enter the e-bike: cheaper, simpler, and increasingly capable of replacing that second or third car. In a time of rising expenses and shifting work habits, some families are finding freedom not in owning more—but in owning less.