Moovit, an Intel company and creator of the popular urban mobility app, is today revealing interesting insights about Southern Californians’ significant change in mobility habits due to the increased cost of fuel. 

Moovit, which guides people in getting around town using any mode of transport, recently surveyed 800 people across Southern California to see if and how their commutes have changed due to higher gas prices, and if so, which modes of transportation are now used more frequently. 

Results show: 

• Almost half of respondents — 47% — have switched their usual mode of transportation due to the increase in fuel costs
• Almost half of respondents — 42% — stated that they drive a private vehicle less often or less far due to the increase in fuel costs
  • Sixteen percent of the respondents drive the same amount as before, while 43% said they do not own a private vehicle
• When asked if family members and/or close friends have changed their travel habits due to fuel costs, respondents answered:
  • Yes, they now use their car less often — 44%
  • Yes, they now use public transit more often — 20%
  • Yes, they now combine public transit with shared mobility options — 14%
  • Yes, they now use shared mobility more often (carpool, shared bikes and scooters, etc.) — 11%
  • Yes, they now use their own personal bicycle or scooter more often — 8%
  • No, their mobility habits have not changed — 38%

Perry Barnett, Partnerships Manager at Moovit said: “Gas prices will likely still be more expensive throughout this spring and summer, and drivers are looking for different ways to combat the fuel prices and save their money. What remains the same is our goal to create more awareness that public transportation is a convenient, sustainable, affordable, and attractive option to easily get from A to B.”

The free Moovit app combines official information from public transportation agencies as well as crowdsourced information to calculate the best route for each journey with mobility options like bus, train, scooters, bikes, Uber, Lyft, and more. The app provides users real-time arrival information so they know exactly when their bus or train is arriving, Live Directions with Get Off Alerts for step-by-step guidance for the entire journey, and Service Alerts so that users can avoid disruptions  and plan their journey accordingly.

Moovit can be downloaded on Google Play and the App Store.