Effects of urban spatial structure on level of excess commutes: A comparison between Seoul and Los Angeles

This study investigates the effects of the urban spatial structure on the excess commuting rate (ECR) by comparing commuting patterns in two cities having distinctive urban forms, Seoul, Korea and Los Angeles, California, USA. A major difference was found in that commuters working closer to employment centres, or living in single-family detached housing in LA, are likely to have lower ECR, but not in Seoul. Employment suburbanisation, strict zoning separating residence and workplace and single-family housing-dominant low-density suburbs in LA are regarded as the reasons for their lower ECRs, which, by definition, imply relatively shorter actual commute duration and/or longer minimum time. Seoul can learn a lesson from LA for employment decentralisation in order to reduce actual commute time, while land use patterns in Seoul such as high level of mixed land use and compact development can provide policy implications for LA for improving commuters’ accessibility and reducing minimum time. 本研宄通过比较韩国首尔和美国加州洛杉矶这两座具有独特城市形态的城市之通勤模式，研宄 了城市空间结构对过剰通勤率（ECR)的影响。ECR意味着实际通勤时间相对较短和/或最短通 勤时间相对较长。在洛杉矶的情况中，工作地点距离就业中心较近或居住在独栋住房中的通勤 者，ECR很有可能较低；而首尔的情况却不同。洛杉矶ECR较低，其原因包括就业的郊区化、 将居住与工作分离的严格分区，以及独栋住房主导的低密度郊区。首尔可以借鉴洛杉机的就业 分散化，以减少实际的通勤时间；而首尔高水平混合土地利用和紧凑型开发等土地利用模式可 为洛杉矶提供政策借鉴，以提高对于通勤人员而言的可达性并减少最短通勤时间。