The parenthood effect in urban mobility
For urban planners and policymakers, this work demonstrates that traditional 'average citizen' mobility models overlook demographic diversity, advocating for more inclusive design strategies.
This study reveals that parenthood and marriage significantly reshape urban mobility patterns, with cities varying in how well they accommodate different household types (e.g., parents favored in Cincinnati and Chicago, singles in Houston and Virginia Beach). The findings highlight the need for tailored urban planning strategies.
We investigate how parenthood and marriage (two major life events) reshape urban mobility patterns, an aspect overlooked in traditional `average citizen' mobility models. Leveraging US census data, we analyse whether these life transitions create distinct urban experiences. Parenthood introduces new priorities including caregiving responsibilities, work-life balance adjustments, and access to family-friendly environments. Similarly, marriage introduces new dynamics including shared household decision-making, potential dual-income benefits, combined residential preferences, and shifts in social networks and lifestyle patterns. Our analysis demonstrates that cities vary significantly in how mobility can be accommodated by different household arrangements: some better accommodate either single individuals (Houston, Virginia Beach) or married people (Atlanta, Baltimore), whereas others favour parents (Cincinnati, Chicago). This classification becomes increasingly relevant for individuals and families as remote work expands relocation possibilities. We find that parents and married individuals face different mobility costs and amenity access patterns compared to their counterparts, with variations consistent across multiple null model tests. This research advances urban planning discourse by advocating for tailored design strategies addressing diverse demographic needs rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.