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Everyday travel mode choice and its determinants: trip attributes versus lifestyle

Publication at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
2009

Abstract

Characteristics of regularly made trips and socio-economic characteristics of individuals are the only determinants of choice of the means of transport (travel mode) used in most transportation engineering and economics choice models. From a sociological perspective such a reductionism to spatial, temporal and budgetary constraints is insufficient.

Therefore, in this article a discrete choice model estimates are presented which include beyond the above mentioned determinants also latent variables capturing the differences in individual preferences of neighborhood type and access to downtown and amenities (traditional city-like versus suburban). The data come from a survey conducted in 2008 in seven Czech cities.

The results confirm that the inclusion of latent variables capturing access and city lifestyle preferences into the travel mode choice model increase its explanatory power, which means that attitudes or preferences account for extra variability of travel mode choice.