Transit Availability and Automobile Ownership

Abstract

The recent increases in auto ownership among low-income households make one wonder whether public transit continues to provide adequate services to this group of transportation disadvantaged. With this question in mind, the study examines the relationship between transit availability and auto ownership with travel survey data from Los Angeles. Although the relationship is statistically significant, it is rather weak, indicating that significant improvements will be needed in transit services to bring forth a slight decrease in auto ownership among the general population. Empirical evidence also shows that auto ownership is relatively low among the poorest households. Due to the difficulties in attracting the general population from automobile use to transit use, it has been suggested that instead of trying to achieve its many objectives, transit may benefit by rigorously pursuing provision of services to those incapable of owning and operating an automobile.