Authors: Evelyn Blumenberg, Moira Donahue, Susan Handy, Kristin Lovejoy, Caroline Rodier, Susan Shaheen, James Volker
Published: September, 2007
Abstract: California is in the midst of a demographic transformation. According to the 2000 U.S. Census,
nearly 30 percent of the California population is now foreign-born, more than 50 percent of the
population belongs to a minority group, and the elderly (those 65 and older) comprise 11 percent
of the population. Demographic forecasts suggest that these patterns will continue. California
will continue to attract immigrants from throughout the world and will become increasingly
diverse, racially and ethnically, with whites declining as a share of the population from 54
percent in 1995 to 30 to 34 percent in 2025, according to one forecast (Thomas and Deakin
2001). The percentage of seniors will also continue its upward trajectory in the coming decades,
reaching over 13 percent by 2025 (Thomas and Deakin 2001). This demographic transformation
raises an important question for transportation planners in the state: How can we ensure that the
kinds of transportation systems and services we provide adequately meet the needs of our
increasingly diverse population?
To answer that question, planners need a better understanding of the travel behavior of
diverse demographic groups within the state. As a part of a larger project studying the needs,
constraints, attitudes, and preferences that influence travel choices and the outcomes of those
travel choices among diverse groups in California, this report provides a review of existing
literature on the travel behavior among specific demographic groups. In particular, this report
provides a review of what is currently known about the travel patterns and transportation needs
of the following five demographic groups, nationwide and in California: immigrants, racial and
ethnic groups (Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics), Native Americans, elderly, and youth.