In recent years, drivers in Los Angeles spent more time in traffic than almost any other major city in the world. Long commute times have both monetary costs and physical and mental health costs to individuals. Individuals with longer commutes tend to spend more money on gas and have less time for other leisure or work activities. Traffic and long commutes may cause stress and adverse health effects from remaining sedentary throughout a commute. Long commute times may also be a barrier to employment for families who cannot afford childcare or gas and vehicle expenses. 

On a neighborhood level, longer commute times could indicate a lack of access to local employment and suggest that residents are not being adequately served by or integrated with the local economy. As the metropolitan Los Angeles area has continued to grow in sprawl, some are forced to live further and further away from economic centers in order to afford housing.