Los Angeles Car Dependence Study

Developing a sustainable transportation system in the car-centric megacity of Los Angeles, California, USA, poses many challenges. The build-out of an integrated and equitable transportation system requires collaboration among all stakeholders because it must meet the needs of diverse people and communities with durable solutions. This study aims to explore mobility patterns in LA and identify possibilities for more environmentally sustainable and socially equitable transportation using a detailed survey capturing Angelenos’ current travel choices, mobility needs, and mobility-related attitudes. The survey uses an efficient approach to collect comprehensive information on respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, vehicle ownership, home/work locations, and activity and mobility patterns. Every day and occasional long-distance travel were assessed, as were attitudes towards various transportation modes, technology use, environmental concerns, and other factors likely to affect travel choices. In contrast to more traditional activity/travel diary approaches used in transportation planning, which require individuals or households to record detailed travel activities over a short time period, our study asked respondents to describe their typical travel behavior, including the frequency of use of various means of transportation. The unique survey design helps define and understand different traveler profiles. These include current mobility patterns, the main determinants of travel choices, and the potential that individuals might have for adjusting travel behaviors.