In this article, Professor Smart and Nicholas Klein (Bloustein PhD, 2014) find that having a car helps Americans find jobs, keep those jobs over time, and move up the economic ladder.
Michael J. Smart
Remembrance of Cars and Buses Past
This research suggests a long-term benefit for encouraging transit at younger ages to foster a “transit habit.”
A Longitudinal Analysis of Cars, Transit, and Employment Outcomes
This report improves on existing data by analyzing groups that have variable access to automobiles – poor families, immigrants, and people of color.
The Social Context of Travel
The authors examine how the social context of a neighborhood can influence activity and travel patterns of those living in “neighborhoods of affinity,” where members of a group with strong social ties live and work.
Gay Men Travel Shorter Distances than the Average Person
Gay men living in gay neighborhoods travel much shorter distances on average than their straight next-door neighbors do.
Recent Publications
What do People Want to do Instead of Commuting to Work?
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden shift to working at home. People stopped commuting to their jobs. We fielded two surveys in New Jersey during the pandemic and included questions on what respondents did with time saved from not commuting as well as which...
The End of Speed Traps and Ticket Quotas: Re-framing and Reforming Traffic Cameras to Increase Support
Abstract The U.S. public is skeptical of speed cameras because they are seen as revenue generators. Many cities do indeed raise funds via traffic tickets, although they are primarily issued by police officers, not cameras. Ironically, cameras are poor long-term...
Understanding preferences for bicycling and bicycle infrastructure
Abstract Using survey data collected in New Jersey, we analyze the frequency of bicycling and respondent perceptions of the safety of various bicycling facilities. Data was collected via a mixed-mode survey design, including intercepts, bicycle hangers, flyers in...
Exploring Stress Levels of E-Scooter Riders
Abstract E-scooters are a low-emission and affordable mode of transportation that contributes to environmental and mobility equity goals. The use of e-scooters, however, has resulted in an estimated 70,000 emergency department visits and at least 41 fatalities between...