FACTORS AFFECTING AUTOMOBILE OWNERSHIP AND USE

Abstract

Factors affecting automobile ownership, effects of the availability of company cars on automobile ownership and travel behavior, and effects of short-term household evolution on automobile ownership were explored using data from two low-density, outer-ring growing suburbs and two high-density, inner-ring stable suburbs. Major findings are summarized. The average number of automobiles per household in the sample was 2.02. The average share of trips by automobile (versus transit) was 84.6% for work trips and practically 100% for nonwork trips. Life-cycle stage is a major determinant of automobile ownership; its effect is highly nonlinear. Changes in life-cycle stage alone may cause automobile ownership to increase (or decrease) substantially. Also, aging of children tends to increase automobile ownership. The number of persons eligible to drive and the number of workers affect automobile ownership positively, whereas the use of transit is associated with reductions in automobile ownership. Location of residence or workplace, or both, and residence relocation into outer-ring, low-density suburbs affect automobile ownership positively, whereas workplace locations in the central city affect automobile ownership negatively because of the availability of high-quality commuter rail service. The availability of company cars increases automobile ownership by 9%. The travel characteristics of those with company cars are affected significantly by the availability of an essentially free vehicle. There is some evidence that the increasing availability of company cars may increase daily vehicle miles of travel and, consequently, worsen traffic congestion.

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