Household location choice and travel behaviour

Abstract

Studies have shown that neighbourhood design is one of the key factors affecting the household transport mode choice. Traditionally quantitative methods have been applied to evaluate the interaction between spatial planning and household travel behaviour. This study is based on multi-method approach (a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods) to identify the key motivational and attitudinal factors and to understand the relationship between residential location choices and transport mode choice. The research adopted an innovative approach to the evaluation of this relationship compared to the more traditional direct or indirect valuation techniques. Another unique aspect of this research is the application of the Q-method. It is a research tool which can measure and show what a respondent really thinks. By conducting focus group discussions, subjective and objective survey analysis in Greater Belfast Metropolitan Area, one of the UK’s most car dependent metropolitan areas, this research incorporated the different methods to evaluate the relationship between transportation and land-use planning along with the varying methods to elicit respondent’s attitude and preference towards neighbourhood choice decision and travel mode choice.

This study found a significant association between neighbourhood design characteristics and transport mode choice. The results show significant evidence of residential self selection(relationship between residential location choice and travel behaviour) but the explicit causality of direction cannot be established. It implies that the conclusive statement as to whether the quality of neighbourhood environment influences travel behaviour or that travel preferences affect residential choice cannot be made based on the multi-method approach used in this research. Overall, neighbourhood safety and proximity to friends and relatives were found to be the most important residential area factors. Generally, residents give more preference to housing unit features rather than neighbourhood design factors in the residential location decision. The study confirms that people select their neighbourhood according to the set of attitudes. For example people with a pro-public transport attitude select the neighbourhood with greater PT access, in contrast, people with a car dominant attitude prefer neighbourhoods with open space and tranquillity. Quantitative analysis reveals that trip frequencies are mostly associated with household socio-demographic factors whereas trip length is associated with neighbourhood design characteristics.

Thesis is embargoed until 30th April 2014

Date of Award	Apr 2012
Original language	English
Sponsors	Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)
Supervisor	Julian Hine (Supervisor) & Jim Berry (Supervisor)