Automobile Ownership and Use in Neotraditional and Conventional Neighborhoods

Abstract

Although the commonly accepted link between automobile ownership and automobile use has inspired some municipalities to experiment with neighborhood design in an attempt to influence both automobile ownership and travel behavior, the underlying relationship between neighborhood design and automobile ownership is still unclear. Evidence suggests that automobile ownership is tightly linked to income and household size and is less responsive to urban design. This research uses data from a matched pair of neighborhoods–-one conventional and one neotraditional–-to consider the relationship between neighborhood design and automobile ownership and the relationship between these factors and automobile use. Statistically significant differences were found for automobile ownership in the two neighborhoods. In addition, there were clear differences in automobile use–-residents of neotraditional developments made fewer automobile trips, traveled fewer miles in their vehicles, and spent less time driving. This has implications for planning strategies that may help reduce automobile trips and miles separately from changes in automobile ownership.