Case Study of Carless Mobility Constraints

The urban carless population, those members of the metropolitan community who lack access to an automobile, may be considered as a distinct population subgroup with common mobility attributes and mobility problems. The mobility restrictions of the carless are divided into two major categories: (1)Trip-making constraints which are related to the inability of the carless to generate a vehicular trip; and (2) environmental constraints which are imposed on carless groups by the physical and social environments in which they live. The conceptual framework is applied to a particular study area on the periphery of the Denver Central Business District. Descriptive profiles of the socioeconomic and travel characteristics of the study area as well as the rest of the Denver metropolitan area are developed. The difference in travel behavior between the carless population and other members of the metropolitan community are not a reflection of different tastes or preferences, but rather, a result of their restricted mobility.