LA County Metro offers up to $600 to reduce vehicle usage

The LA County Metro Authority has launched an expanded pilot program, the 'One Car Challenge,' to reduce vehicle dependence and traffic congestion in Los Angeles. Residents aged 21 or older can earn up to $600 in monetary rewards by keeping one household vehicle parked for five consecutive weeks.

Participants are encouraged to use alternative transportation methods such as public transit, biking, walking, car-sharing, or micro-mobility devices. To track compliance and travel habits, participants use the GoCarma smartphone app to submit odometer readings and activity data. The program aims to collect evidence on whether financial incentives can effectively serve as a long-term transportation demand management strategy.

The initiative expands from a 2023 Santa Monica pilot involving 300 households to a larger rollout covering up to 2,000 households across Los Angeles County. The previous pilot showed a 16.16% increase in walking, biking, and public transit usage among participants.