As electricity is now less expensive on off-peak hours, transit systems could build ridership by offering economy fares for times other than in the rush hour. Perhaps even more fundamental changes in pricing should be considered. The cost of the automobile may be so great that transit service should be offered free much or all of the time, with the price paid out of gasoline taxes. Though this would be controversial, documenting the full costs of car usage could lay the groundwork for such a fundamental change. Fuels themselves are an important question.
Most places have no oil supplies of their own.
So every gallon of petroleum-based fuel used ships cash out of the locality, depriving the local economy of the multiplier effect that could be gained by producing fuels locally. Alcohol from biomass, hydrogen gas produced from solar-generated electricity, and electricity itself are three possibilities. In addition, opening streets to electric carts could pull people out of their cars for short trips, though the ecological impact of battery disposal must be factored into any equation for greater use of electric vehicles. Meanwhile, streets themselves should be redesigned to favor bicycles over cars. And, yes, skateboards, roller blades and other items most of us now see as toys should be considered as serious transportation resources.