Trump has begun another trade war. Here's a timeline of how we got here
Canada's leader laments lost friendship with US in town that sheltered stranded Americans after 9/11
Chinese EV giant BYD's fourth-quarter profit leaps 73%
You're an American in another land? Prepare to talk about the why and how of Trump 2.0
Chalk talk: Star power, top teams and No. 5 seeds headline the women's March Madness Sweet 16
Purdue returns to Sweet 16 with 76-62 win over McNeese in March Madness
California is running out of license plate numbers. The Department of Motor Vehicles announced the current "1ABC234" format, in use since 1980, will be exhausted by 2026. To address this, the new sequence "000AAA0" will be introduced, expanding the available combinations to meet the growing demand.
In the first quarter of 2025, California recorded 463,114 new vehicle registrations, an 8.3% increase from the previous year. Despite a projected annual decrease of 2.3% in total vehicle registrations.
Population growth further compounds the issue. In 2024, California's population grew by 108,000 people, reaching 39.5 million as of January 1. This growth, combined with sprawling urban development, especially in inland counties – like Fresno and San Joaquin – has led to increased vehicle dependency.
California's urban planning has historically favored automobiles, leading to the expansion of suburbs and freeways. This car-centric approach has contributed to environmental concerns, including increased greenhouse gas emissions. Los Angeles had to deal with concerns regarding auto pollution since the 1930s. L.A. began issuing smog alerts by the 1940s. The Legislature had addressed this rising problem with the Air Pollution Act in 1947 and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Act in 1961.
While initiatives like the elimination of parking minimums near transit stops aim to promote public transportation and reduce car reliance, the state's infrastructure and cultural preferences continue to favor personal vehicles.
California’s deep-rooted car culture and growing population demand bold, sustainable solutions. Eliminating parking minimums near transit stops, investing in public transportation, and promoting transit-oriented development can significantly reduce car dependency.
Expanding zero-emission vehicles further cuts emissions, while reallocating road space for buses, bikes, and pedestrians encourages greener mobility.
These strategies, backed by recent legislation and infrastructure plans, aim to shift California away from sprawl-driven planning toward more walkable, efficient cities.
