Commute Distance and Residential Characteristics: Weathering the Storm

Commuting distances in developing countries have received little attention, creating a significant gap in research. This study aims to address this crucial gap by utilizing the 76th NSSO round on “Drinking water, sanitation, and housing conditions”—a nationally representative dataset for our analysis. Research conducted in developed countries has shown that residential self-selection (RSS) has a negligible role in determining commute distance. In the context of a fast-developing country like India, this article investigates whether this phenomenon holds true. Our primary focus is on understanding the explanatory power of location and physical characteristics of households. Our analysis reveals that over two-thirds of job-related trips in India cover a maximum distance of less than 5 km, which holds true for both males and females. Additionally, when examining reasons for relocation, it becomes evident that relocation for employment-related reasons is rare, with residence being the core focal point. The association of these variables with commute distances indicates a negligible to weak relationship. Based on our results, we conclude that the inclusion of location and physical characteristics of households need not significantly contribute to the explanatory power of the model, and the FSM, or the four-step model, cannot be the sole basis for transport planning.