Transportation ruled the front page of yesterday’s Spokesman-Review, and for good reason. One way or another, we all have to get around. As most people involved in transportation policy now realize, the way we get around is undergoing a change.

That’s why we’ve created a home for transportation news on Spokesman.com, and we’re calling it “Getting There” after our Monday print mainstay about all things transportation.

It’s been 75 years since Spokane torched its last streetcar, marking a major shift in local transit. In the past decade, another shift has begun. The average number of miles traveled in personal vehicles both nationwide and in Spokane County has continuously decreased, reversing an upward trend unabated since the car’s invention. Millennials rank their smartphones as more important to them than a car. People reported riding the bus more after the economy soured in 2008. Like Sharon Yablon in our story, people ride a bike to work during all seasons. In short, the car isn't as dominant as it once was. Still, no one expects the convenience or independence of cars to be usurped by another mode, but all signs point to people driving less and seeking other ways to get around.

We all know drivers, bus riders, cyclists and walkers. In fact, you’re probably one of these people, so you’ll want to pay attention to this blog as we keep an eye on what’s going on locally and nationally to transform a system that has long been centered exclusively on the car to one that reflects not only how we move, but also how we say we want to move.