How Apps Can Help Track How Angelenos Move

In a review of the iPhone app Human, Los Angeles County planner Clement Lau examines how the daily movement of residents can be measured.

1 minute read

July 20, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By melaniecj


The Human app tracks how Angelenos move but can’t tell the whole picture because of its limited use.

Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County Planner, reviews the mobile app and shares its findings.

“According to Human, nearly three-quarters of activity in Los Angeles are via motorized transport.  Only 20% walk comparing to the average of 37% in other cities.  Cycling only accounts for 4% of activity, noticeably lower than the average of 10% in other cities.”

Although the app data confirms the idea that Los Angeles is a city of drivers, Lau cautions against jumping to conclusions.

The Human app has limited use because it is not widely known yet and restrictedto iPhone users only, so the data can’t be conclusive, he writes.Lau also cites his use of other apps to track similar data including MapMyWalk.

“It really does help to have this handy tool to track my activity level; even though it is not 100% accurate, itstill gives me a very good idea of how active I have been or how much more I need to do to meet my daily activity/exercise goal.”

To read the full story, visit Urbdezine.

Monday, July 14, 2014 in UrbDeZine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

2 hours ago - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

4 hours ago - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation