Low-income residents in Los Angeles were awarded a $150 monthly travel stipend to spend on trips, including going to Disneyland.
The first phase of the Democrat city’s Mobility Wallet Pilot Program officially launched in May 2023 and wrapped up in April 2024, providing 1,000 eligible participants with a prepaid debit card to cover various transportation services.
Funds were permitted for use on public transit options such as Metro rails and buses, as well as Amtrak, Greyhound, Uber and Lyft rides, and scooter rental applications and bicycle stores.
This initiative, the largest of its kind in the nation, was proposed as a means to grant lower-income individuals better access to safer and improved transportation services to enhance their quality of life.
But now that the first round of the project is over, financial stress has once again burdened the community, UCLA researchers found.
‘The financial burden of transportation [is] a challenging one to cut out of my budget. I can try to reduce it as much as possible, but reducing cost means I have to pay in my time. I think the financial support is probably what I miss the most,’ one participant of the study said.
Meanwhile, another person recalled the joy he felt being able to go to the happiest place on earth for the first time with his travel stipend.
He told researchers his childhood dream finally came true, ‘creating a life-long memory at a place that would have taken too long to reach using only the bus and train.’
Low income residents in Los Angeles were awarded a $150 monthly travel stipend to spend on an array of transportation services. (Pictured: Stock image of Metro train station)
One participant recalled the happiness he felt being able to go to Disneyland (pictured) for the first time with his travel stipend
Another participant said they were able to make it to their sister’s birthday party and even got to bring their parents along for the ride.
They noted that if it were any other situation, their parents would have never attended the gathering over worry about how they would get there and get back home.
Female participants in particular felt a sense of relief participating in the project, as they relied more on ride share services than hoping on public transportation late at night, the research found.
In recent times, women riding public transportation in Los Angeles have been fearful of the experience late at night and during the weekend due to crime, drug use and filth, per KTLA5.
Besides getting to interact more with their community, interviewees also said they found that the program gave them a sense of independence that they didn’t have prior.
Instead of having to worry if friends or family members could take them to where they needed to be, participants got to make the decision themselves and set off alone.
Some people even passed their stipend on to their loved ones by loading up Metro Tap cards so they could also get around.
‘I knew [my brother] was struggling because he had recently moved out from living with us and he was struggling, so I told him, “You know what? Look, they’re giving me this much. I’ll give you half of it, and now you don’t have to worry about … your bus fares for the month, or buying a bus pass”,’ someone revealed to the researchers.
The money was allowed to be used for public transportation like Metro rails and busses, Amtrak, Greyhound, Uber and Lyft rides, along with scooter rental apps and bicycle shops
They also found themselves getting important tasks done at a faster pace, including going to the doctor.
‘Having access to ride-hail services, for example, gave participants another commuting option, especially when transit would not get them to work on time, or way to get to medical and other time-sensitive appointments,’ researchers concluded.
Because of the pilot program, those involved experienced reduced stress, a better sense of community, more independence and an increased quality of life, the study found.
One participant even admitted they felt ‘down’ before embarking on the project.
‘I feel coming into this, I was very, I don’t want to say depressed, but I was definitely down. I wouldn’t really go out,’ they said. ‘
‘I would spend my days at home just because I didn’t want to stress my family out with a ride or stress myself out with asking or figuring it out. I would stay home more often. And it definitely helped me lift myself up.’
Because of the pilot program, those involved experienced reduced stress, a better sense of community, more independence and an increased quality of life, the study found
Although participants experienced access to many transit options and felt better along the way, researchers found that the ‘temporary nature’ of the project limited the long-term impact of it.
Now that phase one has ended, the next phase is set to begin soon, this time allowing 2,000 people across LA county to receive up to $1,8000 for a year ‘to spend on a variety of shared transportation services,’ according to the website.
While the participants were left pleased with the results of the experiment, many online users were enraged to learn what took place for a year.
‘Giving away tax money they don’t have, and sticking citizens with the interest. How disgusting, such theft,’ one wrote.
‘Omg are we third world or what,’ said another.
Someone else commented: ‘This isn’t free money. It is our hard earned money being handed out while we keep getting taxed more so they can keep handing out.’
