Effects of urban spatial structure on level of excess commutes: A comparison between Seoul and Los Angeles

Myung-Jin Jun, Simon Choi, Frank Wen and Ki-Hyun Kwon
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Myung-Jin Jun: Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea
Simon Choi: Southern California Association of Governments, USA
Frank Wen: Southern California Association of Governments, USA
Ki-Hyun Kwon: Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea

Urban Studies, 2018, vol. 55, issue 1, 195-211

Abstract: This study investigates the effects of the urban spatial structure on the excess commuting rate (ECR) by comparing commuting patterns in two cities having distinctive urban forms, Seoul, Korea and Los Angeles, California, USA. A major difference was found in that commuters working closer to employment centres, or living in single-family detached housing in LA, are likely to have lower ECR, but not in Seoul. Employment suburbanisation, strict zoning separating residence and workplace and single-family housing-dominant low-density suburbs in LA are regarded as the reasons for their lower ECRs, which, by definition, imply relatively shorter actual commute duration and/or longer minimum time. Seoul can learn a lesson from LA for employment decentralisation in order to reduce actual commute time, while land use patterns in Seoul such as high level of mixed land use and compact development can provide policy implications for LA for improving commuters’ accessibility and reducing minimum time.

Keywords: excess commute; Los Angeles; Seoul; urban spatial structure; 过剩通勤; æ´›æ ‰çŸ¶; 首尔; 城市空间结构 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:55:y:2018:i:1:p:195-211

DOI: 10.1177/0042098016640692

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