The Hidden Roadblock: How Lack of Transportation Derails Families and Financial Futures

Written By Karnina Szymanski

As a young parent in Youngstown, I remember the stress of staying on the road legally like it was yesterday. I was finishing college and starting my career in insurance while driving an old vehicle that constantly broke down. Every day, I carried the anxiety that a mechanical issue could cost me my job—or worse, keep me from reaching my children in an emergency.

And I had support. I had a co-parent.

I don’t have to imagine how much more difficult that stress is for single moms—I hear those stories all the time.

Like so many others, I faced the constant pressure of transportation costs and made painful tradeoffs to afford gas, insurance, and repairs. One day, I was pulled over and because my tags had expired. I hadn’t paid the renewal because I couldn’t. What followed were steep fines that set me back even further, simply for trying to provide.

I created Invisible Woman LLC because I know firsthand that transportation is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. And when that lifeline breaks, so much else begins to unravel.

The Snowball Effect of Inaccessibility

In many communities like Youngstown, Ohio, the lack of reliable transportation isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a barrier to survival. For single mothers especially, the impacts multiply:

  • Missed work, leading to lost income

  • Limited access to childcare and medical care

  • Children missing school or social activities

  • Isolation from opportunities and community support

  • Women trapped in unsafe environments with no way out

This isn’t a transportation issue. It’s an economic, public health, and mental health crisis.

A study by Gallup found that 25% of Black parents identified transportation as a major barrier to childcare arrangements. This issue is even more pronounced among single Black parents, with nearly 45% acknowledging transportation as a significant problem. Gallup.com

According to PYMNTS Intelligence, women without readily available transportation are 17% less likely to receive preventive medical care and 26% less likely to obtain preventive dental care. Additionally, these women are 78% more likely to postpone seeking medical attention until health issues become urgent.

These studies illustrate how critical reliable transportation is for vulnerable families.

Why Reliable Transportation Is So Hard to Maintain

Even for those who manage to purchase a vehicle, the obstacles pile up:

  • Skyrocketing insurance premiums—especially in areas labeled “high-risk” due to crime or zip code bias

  • Administrative fees: registration, inspections, late penalties, and ticket surcharges

  • Disproportionate traffic enforcement against people of color

  • Compounding court costs, impound fees, and license suspensions

These aren’t just individual problems. They are systemic failures that perpetuate poverty. And now, rising housing costs are compounding the problem.

As affordable housing becomes more challenging to find near city centers or transit corridors, many low-income families are pushed to the outskirts, often with little or no access to public transportation.

These families may find slightly more affordable rent, but they pay for it in car dependency, higher commute costs, and longer travel times. In essence, they’re priced out of proximity and into a cycle of deeper transportation insecurity.

These aren’t just individual problems. They are systemic failures that perpetuate poverty and isolate communities.

“In many U.S. metro areas, 90% of jobs are not reachable by public transit within 60 minutes, especially for people living in low-income housing zones.”

(Source: Brookings Institution)

The Emotional & Mental Toll

The emotional labor of navigating these challenges is invisible—but heavy:

  • Constant anxiety about breaking down, being pulled over, or losing access to work or childcare

  • Shame and stress for children who feel the instability

  • Missed educational and social opportunities for kids

  • The quiet dignity mothers lose in the daily struggle simply to get where they need to go

Economic hardship and transportation insecurity go hand in hand.

Research shows that single-parent families are at significantly higher risk of financial stress, which in turn impacts psychological well-being. The pressure to prioritize gas over groceries—or skip a medical bill to pay insurance—leads to painful tradeoffs that harm the entire household. (Source: PMC)

Transportation is not just a logistical issue. It's a mental health issue. It's a human dignity issue.

It’s also an obstacle that can be overcome with community awareness, policy reform, and collective support.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

When reliable transportation isn’t available, families don’t just fall behind—they fall apart.

  • Public assistance use rises

  • Emergency healthcare visits increase

  • Workforce participation drops

  • The cycle of poverty continues—generation to generation

And we all pay for that.

Impact on Low-Income Workers: Research published in Transport Policy reveals that individuals below the poverty line who drive to work allocate approximately 21% of their total personal income to commuting expenses. This is a stark contrast to the national average, where only about 5% of income is spent on commuting. Such disproportionate costs can deter workforce participation and perpetuate economic hardship. ​

ScienceDirect

Who Can Help—and Why They Should

This isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a collective responsibility.

Insurance Carriers:

  • Reevaluate premium models that penalize low-income and overpoliced communities

  • Invest in rate equity and access programs

Employers:

  • Offer transportation stipends or partner with nonprofits to help workers access reliable transportation

  • Recognize that job retention is linked to mobility

Policymakers & Regulators:

  • Investigate and address modern-day redlining and systemic ticketing patterns

  • Reduce fines and create fair pathways for license reinstatement

Community Members:

  • Advocate for transportation equity as a basic human right

  • Support women who are trying to move forward—but lack the means to do so

What We’re Doing at Invisible Woman LLC

At Invisible Woman LLC, we’re building pathways for women to:

  • Get back on the road legally and safely

  • Access car repairs, insurance literacy, and financial education

  • Receive advocacy support for transportation-related legal challenges

This summer, we’re hosting our Harlem Renaissance Art Gala to fund these programs and uplift the voices of the women we serve. 

Because financial freedom doesn’t start with a budget. It starts with a way to get there.

How You Can Help

Follow & Share this Post

Comment with your perspective or experience

Partner with us as a sponsor or donor

Attend our gala or invite someone who should be there

Learn more at: Invisible Woman Collective

Let’s drive change—one woman at a time.

About Us

At Invisible Woman LLC, we believe that transportation is a human right—a necessity that empowers single moms, single Black moms, and women of color to achieve financial independence and security. Our mission is to bridge the gap between mobility and opportunity, ensuring that women can access childcare, healthcare, job security, and financial stability without the barriers of unreliable transportation.

We understand that independence is power, and we are committed to building a collective of strong, resilient women who can thrive in their communities. By providing resources, education, and funding, we help single moms gain access to dependable vehicles, financial literacy programs, and support services that remove roadblocks to success.

#TransportationEquity #InvisibleWomanLLC #HarlemRenaissanceGala #MobilityIsFreedom #SingleMothers #EconomicJustice #Youngstown #EquityInAction

Karnina Szymanski