Research conducted by a UCLA urban planning professor has found that free parking contributes to the high percentage of workers driving solo. As reported in the San Francisco Gate, U.S. Census data from 2009 to 2011 show that about 73% of Californians drove to work alone. The professor, Donald Shoup, explained that most employees who drive to work have free parking and free parking is an invitation to drive solo to work.
But the article explains that California has a state law that requires employers to offer employees cash instead of a parking space. It explains that this "cash-out" program allows workers to obtain cash for their subsidized parking spots and walk, bike, carpool, or take public transport instead, resulting in fewer cars on the road. But the program is not well known. Professor Shoup explains in the article that by offering the parking cash-out program, it attaches an opportunity cost to parking. By choosing to drive and park, a worker loses the opportunity to obtain cash.
One barrier cited in the article to increasing the use of driving alternatives is the time that it takes to get to work when not driving. According to the article, workers who do not drive to work alone tend to have longer commutes.
