Key takeaways
- While the UCLA population has increased by almost 10,000 students, faculty and staff, automobile commutes declined in 2024, according to UCLA Transportation's State of the Commute 2024 report.
- UCLA employees have one of the highest zero-emission vehicle commute rates of any U.S. college or university.
- Close to 19,000 U-Passes were distributed to undergraduates, with 35% of student residents reporting using transit much more often than before.
Although an average of 83,529 daily vehicle trips were taken at UCLA in 2024, Bruins are commuting sustainably in significant numbers, riding the bus and behind the wheel of electric vehicles. These observations and more are covered in State of the Commute 2024, UCLA Transportation's report documenting the travel patterns of the university community during the academic year.
Automobile commutes into Westwood have declined compared to previous years, which is noteworthy given that the university population has grown by almost 10,000 over the last five years. The percentage of vehicle trips taken by employees and students is currently at its lowest in campus history.
Of those Bruins who drive, three of the top ten cars associated with 2024 parking permit purchases are zero-emission electric or hybrid vehicles. The employee drive-alone rate by gasoline-powered vehicles is now at an all-time low — only 38% of UCLA's workforce.
Eco-friendly vehicle commutes by employees continued climbing, according to a survey of weekly trips. Almost 4,000 employees head to campus via a zero-emission vehicle each workday – making this EV use one of the highest for any college or university in the country. To meet the demands of these alternatively fueled rides, UCLA Transportation added 112 Level 1 chargers across two different parking structures and five accessible Level 2 chargers in another parking area, bringing its total EV charging plug count up to 549.
While university employees arrive on campus from across L.A. County, Bruins are much greener commuters than their fellow L.A. County workers. Environmentally friendly employee commutes increased in 2024, accounting for 61% of staff and faculty starting the workday sustainably. The increase is due to a considerable rise in transit ridership, jumping from 100,935 the previous year to 144,628 trips for 2024, and a higher percentage of faculty and staff opting to walk, carpool and vanpool.
Employees also telecommute well above the L.A. County average rate. This is important as working from home reduces traffic congestion and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
For students on the move, more hopped on the bus. Transit trips beat driving alone among students. UCLA's Bruin U-Pass program for undergraduates and Bruin Grad Pass for graduate students helped propel these increases.
Close to 19,000 U-Passes were distributed to undergraduate students. Almost half the student resident population relies on public transportation, with 35% reporting using transit much more often than before.
Getting out of the car additionally led to an increase in bike and scooter usage. UCLA's bicycle counters at Westwood Plaza and Strathmore Place recorded over 50,000 bicycle trips in 2024.
State of the Commute also chronicles the arrival of a new form of transportation: Waymo, the autonomous vehicle ride-hail service. Waymo's zero-emission vehicles started providing service to the campus in 2024.
Learn more about the commuting habits of Bruins and other transportation developments at the interactive UCLA State of the Commute 2024 website.
