policy brief

Universal Basic Mobility Pilot Programs in Oakland and Bakersfield Are Combatting Transportation Poverty

Publication Date

September 1, 2024

Author(s)

Areas of Expertise

Safety, Public Health, & Mobility Justice

Abstract

The concept of Universal Basic Mobility (UBM) calls upon policymakers to ensure all people have access to transportation services for basic needs like work, food, and healthcare. Pilot programs in California and beyond are testing UBM as a means to address the problem of transport poverty, often defined as a household spending more than 10% of their income on transportation (the average American household spends 16%). This policy brief highlights findings from a study by UC Davis researchers evaluating the economic, social, and environmental impacts of UBM-inspired pilot programs in two major California cities–Bakersfield and Oakland.