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

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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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Myung-Jin Jun & Simon Choi & Frank Wen & Ki-Hyun Kwon, 2018. "Effects of urban spatial structure on level of excess commutes: A comparison between Seoul and Los Angeles," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(1), pages 195-211, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:55:y:2018:i:1:p:195-211
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098016640692
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mi-Kyeong Kim & Sangpil Kim & Hong-Gyoo Sohn, 2018. "Relationship between Spatio-Temporal Travel Patterns Derived from Smart-Card Data and Local Environmental Characteristics of Seoul, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Lingbo Liu & Zhenghong Peng & Hao Wu & Hongzan Jiao & Yang Yu, 2018. "Exploring Urban Spatial Feature with Dasymetric Mapping Based on Mobile Phone Data and LUR-2SFCAe Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, July.

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