{"id":985780,"date":"2026-08-07T01:53:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/985780\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T01:53:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:53:17","slug":"la-metro-will-pay-you-600-not-to-drive-your-car-daily-bulletin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/985780\/","title":{"rendered":"LA Metro will pay you $600 not to drive your car \u2013 Daily Bulletin"},"content":{"rendered":"

In order to convince people to replace solo driving with mass transit, LA Metro is offering cash incentives for people to park at least one of their cars at home and try walking, bike share, carpooling or taking a train or bus.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the idea of getting paid to skip the car \u2014 even for a few weeks \u2014 sounds good to you, this is your chance,\u201d wrote the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in its online magazine \u201cThe Source.\u201d \u201cLA\u2019s roads (and your wallet) will thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

LA Metro figures it will be no problem signing up folks \u2014 they have room for about 2,000 participants. High gas prices from the Iran-Israel War<\/a> also may spur some drivers to ditch their cars for a while and save cash by avoiding the gas pump.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are expecting several thousand to sign up,\u201d said Patrick Chandler, LA Metro spokesman. The agency estimates about 30% of solo car trips each day could be done by walking, carpool or by some form of public transit.<\/p>\n

To sign up, you must register online directly at metro.net\/onecar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"AA snapshot of the web page for the Metro program.<\/p>\n

All must be at least 21 years old, have one or more cars in their household, and keep one idle for five weeks. Each person could get paid as much as $600 for not driving their car and completing the \u201cOne Car Challenge, Phase 2.\u201d<\/p>\n

LA Metro will evaluate each applicant. At first the transit agency seemed to prefer those with two cars, in an effort to see what it would be like to leave the second family car at home. But the program is open to one-car owners as well who are willing to go car-free for five weeks.\u00a0 But the agency wants to make sure that an applicant has nearby transit options, Chandler said.<\/p>\n

To prove the unused car stays that way, participants will be using GoCarma\u2019s smartphone app to keep track of odometer readings. Participants may be asked to turn in photos of the car\u2019s odometer before, during and at the end of the five weeks to document reduced driving. The app tracks travel behavior and vehicle odometer readings, but Metro says it respects data privacy.<\/p>\n

The agency has acquired a $2 million grant from the Southern California Association of Governments to complete the pilot.<\/p>\n

\"MetroMetro riders board the A line train at Union Station on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

If the agency finds a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, that could spur new incentivized behavioral projects known as transportation demand tools, like toll lanes<\/a> or fees to enter a traffic-choked area. The goal is of course, to get more long-term LA Metro riders, but also by reducing cars on the road, traffic flow improves and vehicle emissions drop, said LA Metro.<\/p>\n

This could churn out new kinds of car-less tactics in time for the 2028 LA Olympic and Paralympic games.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe timing matters, too,\u201d wrote LA Metro in its release, referring to a summer try-out two years before the start of LA28. \u201cWith the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, LA needs real, tested strategies to manage traffic and get people moving sustainably. The One Car Challenge is part of that preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first phase took place in the fall of 2023 in Santa Monica, where traffic engineers found a significant reduction in vehicle use. That phase used only 300 people with multi-car households. This next phase is a kick up to 2,000, spread across Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n

The Santa Monica pilot showed a meaningful shift away from solo car trips and that meant more people were walking, riding bikes and scooters.<\/p>\n

Chandler said it helped that Santa Monica has a robust bus system, the Big Blue Bus, and also the LA Metro E Line\u2019s western terminus is just steps away from the Santa Monica Pier and other city landmarks. People can avoid small car trips to the coffee shop, dry cleaners or restaurants by walking or riding the bus or rail line.<\/p>\n

In Seattle in 2003, the \u201cOne-Less-Car Demonstration Study with 86 participants reduced total miles driven by 41,463, or an average of 1,974 miles not driven per week,\u201d according to a report from the Federal Highway Administration. Also, the report found the program saved a total of 8,003 fewer car trips.<\/p>\n

In Phase 2 here in L.A. County, the best participant may be the person living near a transit corridor.<\/p>\n

\"TeamTeam USA fans walking past a LA Metro bus carrying more fans to the U.S. opener against Paraguay of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

For example, in the San Fernando Valley, a person could leave the car at home when in walking proximity to bus lines on major thoroughfares, such as Line 165 on Vanowen Street that connects Burbank to West Hills. Or near the LA Metro G Line (Orange Line) BRT from the North Hollywood B Line subway station 18 miles across the Valley to Chatsworth, said Bart Reed, executive director of The Transit Coalition.<\/p>\n

Someone living near a major bus route would find it easier to ditch the car and ride the bus or G Line to work, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are within a quarter mile of a big bus line in the San Fernando Valley, you\u2019d be more likely to try this experiment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Those reacting on social media were divided over the concept. One who left a comment on the social media outlet Reddit, said the opposite is also true.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would take me about 2 1\/2 hours with about four to six transfers to commute one-way to work if I took public transit. There\u2019s no way I\u2019m doing all that work wasting five hours of my life a day for a measly $600,\u201d said one commenter.<\/p>\n

\"LALA Metro buses using lanes usually on right hand side of street painted in street as \u201cBUS BIKE ONLY.\u201d on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Sherman Oaks, The bus lanes on Sepulveda from Ventura Boulevard started in March 2024
\n (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

In the north San Gabriel Valley, South LA and Long Beach, those who live along the very lengthy A Line or near one of the light-rail\u2019s stations, may be up for the challenge.<\/p>\n

Bin Jhang of Pasadena, where there are six A-Line stations, no longer owns a car, so he\u2019s not eligible. He regularly takes the A-Line from Pasadena to his work in Duarte. He thinks others who drive to work but live near train stations or major bus lines should consider taking the five-week challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an appealing way to get you to ride the trains and buses,\u201d he said. \u201cBesides, there are too many cars on the road right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those with car troubles facing costly repairs may consider riding a bus or train, which costs $1.75 each way, adding up to less than the cost of car payments, maintenance, insurance and gasoline. Transit discounts are available for seniors, disabled and student riders. Low-income riders can enroll in LA Metro\u2019s LIFE Program, where new members get 90 days of unlimited free rides, followed by 20 free rides each month.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy car isn\u2019t passing smog and new catalytic converters are $1,700. Where do I sign?,\u201d noted a Reddit commenter.<\/p>\n

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