How Can Carshare Help Low-Income Travelers?

Most carshare programs, such as ZipCar and Turo, disproportionately serve higher-income drivers. However, low-income travelers might especially benefit from the ability to purchase only the amount of automobile access they need.

In "Can Subsidized Carshare Programs Enhance Access for Low-Income Travelers?" (Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 90, No. 3) Julene Paul, Miriam Pinski, Madeline Brozen, and Evelyn Blumenberg assess carshare's potential for low-income households using a case study of a single program in Los Angeles.

Subsidized Carsharing in Los Angeles

The authors interviewed 37 members of BlueLA, an electric station-based carsharing program in Los Angeles. BlueLA offers both subsidized (standard) and regular (community) memberships.

In California, electric vehicle rideshare programs like BlueLA are eligible for cap-and-trade funding and receive priority when they are located in underserved neighborhoods.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation began operating BlueLA in 2018, allowing members to rent and return vehicles at designated electric charging stations, and offering affordability.

Most BlueLA users interviewed were young (under 40), highly educated, and lived in zero-vehicle households. Unlike previous studies, the majority were people of color. They used the service frequently and viewed it positively.

When and Why Does Carshare Work Best for Low-Income Travelers?

There are notable reasons why people appreciate car-sharing services like BlueLA. Here are some key aspects that users found particularly beneficial:

• Affordability relative to private automobile ownership
  • "[I appreciate] not having the expenses of a car monthly, and also insurance monthly, and gas, specifically, because [my previous vehicle] was a regular vehicle and not electric. I enjoyed no longer having those expenses. Yes, it is a little bit harder to get around. But mostly it was costing me a lot more money than it is now."
• Facilitates trip chaining (stringing together multiple stops on a single trip)
  • "When you have to do the big grocery, when you have like five bags of stuff, without the car is pretty hard. So usually what I do is I take some errands that I have to do, like four or five places... and in that trip, I go to the grocery — I don't know, Best Buy or Costco and places like that. But to go to a place like that, I need a plan. I need a space to put the groceries."
• Improved access to food and ability to connect with family and friends
  • "My dad lives in Whittier. I will take the car to visit him and my family there. So that's about a 30-minute drive outside of the city. Yeah, I mean, technically I could [take public transit]. But it would be like two and a half hours on the Montebello bus line."
• Addresses parking challenges in dense, centrally located neighborhoods
  • "To me [BlueLA] is worth every penny because the parking situation where I stay is horrible. So instead of looking for parking for half an hour, driving around, I already know I have parking at the station."

Interviewees were consistently dissatisfied with vehicle availability, often unable to predict if a vehicle would be accessible. This uncertainty deterred many from using the service for time-sensitive trips. When vehicles were only at distant BlueLA stations, some opted for transit or ride-hailing, adding time and cost to their trips.

For a few interviewees, carsharing may have replaced car ownership. However, the unpredictable availability of BlueLA cars led them to still aspire to own a vehicle.

How Can Other Programs Replicate BlueLA's Success?

Ultimately, BlueLA's popularity stems from its location and unique program design, including affordable prices. Cities interested in aiding underserved travelers through carsharing should assess the local transportation landscape. BlueLA members, subsidized and unsubsidized, combined carsharing with public transit, ride-hail, and active modes. Programs should prioritize locations well-served by public transit and with concentrations of low-income or carless travelers.

Agencies can employ creative pricing to compete with other shared mobility options, enhancing accessibility for those needing affordable transportation. Integrating carsharing into broader transportation planning addresses mobility needs across diverse groups, promoting equitable access to transportation alternatives.

Top image: Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus