Project Summary
Problem Statement: Compared to mobile households, mobility-impaired households are at a disadvantage for accessing employment, educational, social, and recreational opportunities. Currently, around 10.5 million US households do not own cars (according to American Community Survey data); in California, approximately 8% of households do not have cars. These households, which are often neglected in transportation policy discussions, can be organized into two groups: “involuntary” and “voluntary”. Understanding the travel behavior of households that voluntarily decided to forgo cars is important for informing policies that aim to reduce dependency on cars and greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the travel pattern of involuntary carless households is no less important as these households are at greater risk of physical isolation, poor access, and social exclusion. Unfortunately, knowledge of travel behavior of carless households is lacking.
Proposal: This research will shed some light on the travel behavior of voluntary and involuntary carless households in California by analyzing data from the 2012 California Household Travel Survey (CHTS). Researchers will analyze both travel diaries and GPS data to characterize the trip patterns of voluntary and involuntary carless households and contrast their trips with those of households with vehicles. Researchers will then estimate mode choice and create generalized Structural Equation Models (GSEM) to assess the effects of various socioeconomic and built environment variables on travel behavior.
Expected Impact and Benefits: This research will be of interest to transit and planning agencies throughout California, and to public and private organizations fighting poverty and social exclusion. The results of this research will provide a better understanding of how to reduce the dependence on motor vehicles by examining households who are voluntarily carless. It will also inform policies designed to help poor households who are mobility impaired.
