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A new study on the effect of ride-sharing on traffic congestion was just released by the W. P. Carey School of Business. This study by Li, Hong and Zhang proves that ride-sharing, and Uber specifically, actually decrease congestion significantly.

“Our findings provide empirical evidence that ride-sharing services such as Uber significantly decrease the traffic congestion after entering an urban area.”

They argue this is mostly due to the fact that ride-sharing vehicles have more people in them on average than taxis (1.8 vs 1.1) and because Uber causes a reduction in car ownership. From a study done in San Francisco researchers found that one ride-sharing vehicle replaced 9 to 13 vehicles.

Less congestion is not only beneficial in a direct way but also in an indirect way. Less congestion means less fuel use, less pollution and better air quality. Next to that it also reduces stress in people significantly as being stuck in traffic is terrible for your mood.

With the evidence of the sharing economy having a profound positive effect on society piling up you would expect Democrats to be all for it. Ironically enough many top Democrats have come out against the sharing economy and ride-sharing in particular.

For instance, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has said “I am not a great fan of Uber—you can quote me on that.” Sanders started backing Hillary after promises of increased input of progressives in the Democrat platform this year. But perhaps this extra input wasn’t even necessary, as Clinton is also hostile to wha she derisively deemed the “so-called gig economy”. She said she would “Crack down” on independent contractors working in the sharing economy.

Democrats can’t keep their head in the sand forever for the sake of union bosses and special interests in the taxi & hotel industries who don’t want ride-sharing to take off. The sharing economy is here to stay.