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Brother can you Spare a Ride? Carpooling in Immigrant Neighbourhoods

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  • Evelyn Blumenberg
  • Michael Smart

Abstract

Immigrants are more likely to travel by carpool than the US-born. Strong ethnic ties within immigrant communities may contribute to immigrants’ propensity to carpool, enabling residents to find carpool partners more easily and increasing the likelihood that residents will travel to and from common destinations. Drawing on data from the 2000 US census and a 2001 regional travel survey, this paper examines whether residents of ethnic neighbourhoods in Southern California are more likely to carpool than other residents. A strong positive relationship is found between the percentage foreign-born in a census tract and carpooling rates. Analysis of individual data shows that this relationship is strongest for immigrants who live in immigrant neighbourhoods; immigrants living in non-immigrant neighbourhoods are less likely to carpool. These findings suggest an important role for social networks in travel behaviour and the potential benefits of linking land use to the specific needs of local residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Evelyn Blumenberg & Michael Smart, 2014. "Brother can you Spare a Ride? Carpooling in Immigrant Neighbourhoods," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(9), pages 1871-1890, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:51:y:2014:i:9:p:1871-1890
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098013502825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yu, Shaolu, 2016. "“I am like a deaf, dumb and blind person”: Mobility and immobility of Chinese (im)migrants in Flushing, Queens, New York City," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 10-21.
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    5. Shin, Eun Jin, 2017. "Ethnic neighborhoods, social networks, and inter-household carpooling: A comparison across ethnic minority groups," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 14-26.
    6. Morrison, Geoffrey M. & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2016. "Driving in force: The influence of workplace peers on commuting decisions on U.S. military bases," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 22-40.
    7. Farber, Steven & Mifsud, Anika & Allen, Jeff & Widener, Michael J. & Newbold, K. Bruce & Moniruzzaman, Md, 2018. "Transportation barriers to Syrian newcomer participation and settlement in Durham Region," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 181-192.
    8. Lars E. Olsson & Raphaela Maier & Margareta Friman, 2019. "Why Do They Ride with Others? Meta-Analysis of Factors Influencing Travelers to Carpool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Neoh, Jun Guan & Chipulu, Maxwell & Marshall, Alasdair & Tewkesbury, Adam, 2018. "How commuters’ motivations to drive relate to propensity to carpool: Evidence from the United Kingdom and the United States," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 128-148.

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