Los Angeles County residents can receive up to $600 from LA Metro to participate in the second phase of its One Car Challenge, a pilot program designed to encourage a reduction in driving. Eligible households agree to leave at least one vehicle parked at home for five weeks and instead utilize public transit, biking, walking, or carpooling.
The initiative, which is a much larger expansion from a 2023 Santa Monica test that involved about 300 households, is now targeting approximately 2,000 households across Los Angeles County. For the first time, single-car households are also eligible to participate.
LA Metro is employing this financial incentive to gauge whether such programs can effectively decrease traffic congestion, lower regional emissions, and improve air quality. Participants must be at least 21 years old and will have their travel habits monitored through the GoCarma smartphone app, which automatically tracks trips and vehicle mileage. Households that successfully complete the challenge can earn up to $600.
The expanded program is funded by a $2 million Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant from the Southern California Association of Governments. Initial results from the pilot phase showed a significant shift in travel behavior, with a notable increase in walking and micromobility. According to data from the first round, participants were 2.6 times more likely to avoid using an extra vehicle, leading to a documented 16.16% increase in walking, biking, and public transit use.
Officials anticipate that the data gathered from this larger study will be crucial in determining if incentive-based programs can become a sustainable strategy for reducing vehicle miles traveled. The findings will also inform future transportation policies, particularly in anticipation of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, when significant traffic challenges are expected.
Public reaction to the program has been mixed. Some social media users expressed enthusiasm for the financial benefit and the opportunity to reduce their driving impact, while others raised concerns about the practicality of relying on public transportation, citing longer commute times compared to driving. Supporters of the program pointed out that many critics may not be familiar with or utilize the existing public transit system.
Residents interested in joining the One Car Challenge can register on the Metro website. The data collected will be used to assess the viability of paying people to drive less as a long-term strategy for mitigating congestion and pollution in California.