Transportation challenges of low-income households with children: A case study in south Los Angeles

Low-income households commonly lack access to quality and affordable transportation options, impeding their access to opportunities. Low-income households with children face additional challenges. We draw on data from thirty-nine in-depth interviews to examine the effect of children on the travel behavior and experience of low-income adults. We find that low-income households with children experience increased financial and temporal burdens related to travel. These unique and complex challenges result in fewer socioeconomic opportunities and financial resources and reduced time for non-travel activities. The findings underscore the importance of programs and policies to develop a multimodal, affordable transportation safety net.

We drew on interview data from thirty-nine low-income adults selected to participate in the Los Angeles Mobility Wallet pilot program in South Los Angeles before they received any funding. We used thematic analysis to examine the travel patterns and challenges of low-income households with and without children and across differing levels of automobile access. We investigated how being low-income and having children affects the travel behavior and decision-making of caregivers. The interviews confirmed that the presence of children in the household complicates the travel behavior of caregivers and, in so doing, compounds the barriers that they face as low-income travelers living in high-poverty neighborhoods. This complex travel has significant implications for mobility, accessibility, and other life outcomes. Despite having constrained financial resources, low-income travelers with caregiving responsibilities have difficulty relying on public transit or other shared modes, ultimately concluding that a more expensive personal vehicle is often an unavoidable necessity. Transportation planners and policymakers must better understand the challenges faced by low-income households with children to provide equitable mobility and accessibility options. Specifically, the findings from our study suggest the need for affordable, multimodal transportation that addresses the diverse travel needs of low-income adults with children.

To read the full research article, click here.

To read a shorter policy brief, click here.

Photo by Nimish Pastaria on Unsplash