Date of Graduation
7-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Civil Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Mitra, Suman
Committee Member
Sasidharan, Lekshmi
Second Committee Member
Hernandez, Sarah
Keywords
household characteristics, travel behavior, patterns, National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), Carelessness
Abstract
Carless households in the United States face persistent mobility challenges that can limit access to essential activities and services. Despite growing interest in carlessness, limited research has examined how the characteristics and travel behavior of carless households have evolved over time. This study addresses this gap by examining how the characteristics and travel patterns of carless households have evolved over time, using repeated cross-sectional data from the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) for 2001, 2009, 2017, and 2022. The analysis shows that carless households are predominantly located in urban areas and are more likely to be lower-income, younger, and female-headed. However, the 2022 data reveal a notable rise in carlessness among younger and higher-income households, suggesting potential cultural or attitudinal shifts toward car-free living. Employment status is no longer a strong predictor of car ownership, while gender disparities, though still present, have gradually narrowed over time. In contrast, higher education levels and larger household sizes continue to be consistent predictors of vehicle ownership. Across all survey years, walking and biking remain the most commonly used modes among carless households. In 2022, the share of shopping and errand trips declined, while the share of work-related trips increased, patterns that are consistent with pandemic-related disruptions and evolving mobility options. These changes coincide with a reduction in total trips and vehicle miles traveled. Mode choice patterns indicate that residential location and trip distance are key correlates of travel behavior, with increasing reliance on taxi and ride-hailing services observed in 2022. Overall, the findings highlight evolving patterns of carlessness and underscore the importance of accounting for temporal and socio-demographic heterogeneity in transportation planning and policy.
Citation
Mamiseishvili, L. (2026). Evolving Patterns of Carlessness in the United States: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis of Household Characteristics and Travel Behavior Using NHTS (2001–2022). Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/6403
