The Declining Driver's License: Good, Bad, or Both?

In 1983, nearly half of all 16-year-old Americans had a driver’s license. By 2022, that share had fallen in half to ~25%. Even at 18 years old the rate dropped from roughly 80% to 60% over the same period. This trend is real, decades-long, and expected to continue. I want to tell you this is good news, and I think it mostly is. But fewer licenses doesn’t mean more kids on bikes — it may just mean…