Top

Transportation

Published in:

01-09-2016

Travel mode choice and travel satisfaction: bridging the gap between decision utility and experienced utility

Authors: Jonas De Vos, Patricia L. Mokhtarian, Tim Schwanen, Veronique Van Acker, Frank Witlox

Published in: Transportation | Issue 5/2016

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

Over the past decades research on travel mode choice has evolved from work that is informed by utility theory, examining the effects of objective determinants, to studies incorporating more subjective variables such as habits and attitudes. Recently, the way people perceive their travel has been analyzed with transportation-oriented scales of subjective well-being, and particularly the satisfaction with travel scale. However, studies analyzing the link between travel mode choice (i.e., decision utility) and travel satisfaction (i.e., experienced utility) are limited. In this paper we will focus on the relation between mode choice and travel satisfaction for leisure trips (with travel-related attitudes and the built environment as explanatory variables) of study participants in urban and suburban neighborhoods in the city of Ghent, Belgium. It is shown that the built environment and travel-related attitudes—both important explanatory variables of travel mode choice—and mode choice itself affect travel satisfaction. Public transit users perceive their travel most negatively, while active travel results in the highest levels of travel satisfaction. Surprisingly, suburban dwellers perceive their travel more positively than urban dwellers, for all travel modes.

previous article Precise estimation of connections of metro passengers from Smart Card data

next article Cordon tolls and competition between cities with symmetric and asymmetric interactions

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

For a given variable, the BMSS is based on the distance of the cluster means from the grand mean. Because the clusters are constructed precisely to maximize the distinctiveness between clusters (as well as to maximize the homogeneity within clusters), standard statistical tests are not appropriate for judging the differences between clusters. However, it is appropriate to note that the larger the BMSS, the more strongly the associated variable contributes to the distinction between clusters (Mokhtarian et al. 2009).

Bus, tram and train are combined because train use is low, especially in suburban neighborhoods.

It has to be borne in mind that the remembered utility may also be affected by trips preceding the most recent one. The relative importance of the most recent trip is likely to differ across different types of trips, as well as the intensity of experienced events during the most recent trip (cf. peak end rule).

Abou-Zeid, M.: Measuring and modeling activities and travel well-being. Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2009)

Abou-Zeid, M., Witter, R., Bierlaire, M., Kaufmann, V., Ben-Akiva, M.: Happiness and travel mode switching: findings from a Swiss public transportation experiment. Transp. Policy 19(1), 93–104 (2012)CrossRef

Bagley, M.N., Mokhtarian, P.L.: The impact of residential neighborhood type on travel behavior: a structural equations modeling approach. Ann. Reg. Sci. 36(2), 279–297 (2002)CrossRef

Ben-Elia, E., Alexander, B., Hubers, C., Ettema, D.: Activity fragmentation, ICT and travel: an exploratory path analysis of spatiotemporal interrelationships. Transp. Res. Part A 68, 56–74 (2014)

Bentham, J.: An Introduction to The Principles of Morals and Legislations. Blackwell, Oxford (1789/1948)

Bergstad, C.J., Gamble, A., Gärling, T., Hagman, O., Polk, M., Ettema, D., Friman, M., Olsson, L.E.: Subjective well-being related to satisfaction with daily travel. Transportation 38(1), 1–15 (2011)CrossRef

Cao, J.: The relationships between e-shopping and store shopping in the shopping process of search goods. Transp. Res. Part A 46(7), 993–1002 (2012)

Cao, J.: The association between light rail transit and satisfactions with travel and life: evidence from Twin Cities. Transportation 40(5), 921–933 (2013)CrossRef

Cao, X., Mokhtarian, P.L., Handy, S.L.: Do changes in neighborhood characteristics lead to changes in travel behavior? A structural equations modeling approach. Transportation 34(5), 535–556 (2007)CrossRef

Cao, X., Mokhtarian, P.L., Handy, S.L.: Examining the impacts of residential self-selection on travel behaviour: a focus on empirical findings. Transp. Rev. 29(3), 359–395 (2009)CrossRef

Cervero, R.: Built environments and mode choice: toward a normative framework. Transp. Res. Part D 7(4), 265–284 (2002)CrossRef

Cervero, R.: Traditional neighborhoods and commuting in the San Francisco Bay Area. Transportation 23(4), 373–394 (1996)CrossRef

Cervero, R., Kockelman, K.: Travel demand and the 3Ds: density, diversity and design. Transp. Res. Part D 2(3), 199–219 (1997)CrossRef

Chen, C., Gong, H., Paaswell, R.: Role of the built environment on mode choice decisions: additional evidence on the impact of density. Transportation 35(3), 285–299 (2008)CrossRef

Csikszentmihalyi, M., Larson, R.: Validity and reliability of the experience sampling method. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 175(9), 526–537 (1987)CrossRef

De Vos, J., Derudder, B., Van Acker, V., Witlox, F.: Reducing car use: changing attitudes or relocating? The influence of residential dissonance on travel behavior. J. Transp. Geogr. 22, 1–9 (2012)CrossRef

De Vos, J., Schwanen, T., Van Acker, V., Witlox, F.: Travel and subjective wellbeing: a focus on findings, methods and future research needs. Transp. Rev. 33(4), 421–442 (2013)CrossRef

De Vos, J., Schwanen, T., Van Acker, V., Witlox, F.: Searching for a satisfying scale for travel satisfaction. Transp. Res. Part F 33(4), 421–442 (2014)

Diener, E.: The Science of Well-Being: The Collected Works of Diener, 1st edn. Springer, Dordrecht (2009)CrossRef

Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J., Griffen, S.: The satisfaction with life scale. J. Personal. Assess. 49(1), 71–75 (1985)CrossRef

Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D.-W., Oishi, S., Diener-Biswar, R.: New well-being measures: short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Soc. Indic. Res. 97(2), 143–156 (2010)CrossRef

Domencich, T.A., McFadden, D.: Urban Travel Demand: A behavioral Analysis. North-Holland, Amsterdam (1975)

Duarte, A., Garcia, C., Giannarakis, G., Limão, S., Polydoropoulou, A., Litinas, N.: New approaches in transportation planning: happiness and transport economics. Netnomics 11(1), 5–32 (2010)CrossRef

Ettema, D., Friman, M., Gärling, T., Olsson, L.E., Fujii, S.: How in-vehicle activities affect work commuters’ satisfaction with public transport. J. Transp. Geogr. 24, 215–222 (2012)CrossRef

Ettema, D., Gärling, T., Eriksson, L., Friman, M., Olsson, L.E., Fujii, S.: Satisfaction with travel and subjective well-being: development and test of a measurement tool. Transp. Res. Part F 14(3), 167–175 (2011)CrossRef

Ettema, D., Gärling, T., Olsson, L.E., Friman, M.: Out-of-home activities, daily travel, and subjective well-being. Transp. Res. Part A 44(9), 723–732 (2010)

Ettema, D., Smajic, I.: Walking, places and wellbeing. Geogr. J. (2014). doi:10.1111/geoj.12065

Ewing, R., Cervero, R.: Travel and the built environment. A meta-analysis. J. Am. Plan. Assoc. 76(3), 265–294 (2010)CrossRef

Friman, M., Fujii, S., Ettema, D., Gärling, T., Olsson, L.E.: Psychometric analysis of the satisfaction with travel scale. Transp. Res. Part A 48, 132–145 (2013)

Groves, R.M.: Survey Errors and Survey Costs. John Wiley and Sons, New York (1989)CrossRef

Handy, S.L., Cao, X., Mokhtarian, P.L.: Correlation or causality between the built environment and travel behavior? Evidence from Northern California. Transp. Res. D 10(6), 427–444 (2005)CrossRef

Kahneman, D., Krueger, A.B.: Developments in the measurement of subjective well-being. J. Econ. Perspect. 20(1), 3–24 (2006)CrossRef

Kahneman, D., Wakker, P.P., Sarin, R.: Back to Bentham? Explorations of experienced utility. Quart. J. Econ. 112(2), 375–405 (1997)CrossRef

Kamruzzaman, M., Baker, D., Washington, S., Turrell, G.: Residential dissonance and mode choice. J. Transp. Geogr. 33, 12–28 (2013)CrossRef

Karsten, L.: Family gentrifiers: challenging the city as a place simultaneously to build a career and to raise children. Urban Stud 40(12), 2573–2584 (2003)CrossRef

Kwan, M.-P.: Gender and individual access to opportunities: a study of space-time measures. Prof. Geogr. 51(2), 210–227 (1999)CrossRef

Lenntorp, B.: Paths in space-time environment: a time-geographic study of movement possibilities of individuals. Environ. Plan. A 9(8), 961–972 (1977)CrossRef

McFadden, D.: The choice theory approach to market research. Mark. Sci. 5(4), 275–297 (1986)CrossRef

McFadden, D.: Economic choices. Am. Econ. Rev. 91(3), 351–378 (2001)CrossRef

Mokhtarian, P.L., Ory, D.T., Cao, X.: Shopping-related attitudes: a factor and cluster analysis of Northern California shoppers. Environ. Plan. B 36, 204–228 (2009)CrossRef

Mokhtarian, P.L., Salomon, I.: How derived is the demand for travel? Some conceptual and measurement considerations. Transp. Res. Part A 35(8), 695–719 (2001)

Olsson, L.E., Gärling, T., Ettema, D., Friman, M., Fujii, S.: Happiness and satisfaction with work commute. Soc. Indic. Res. 111(1), 255–263 (2013)CrossRef

Ory, D.T., Mokhtarian, P.L.: When is getting there half the fun? Modeling the liking for travel. Transp. Res. Part A 39(2–3), 97–123 (2005)

Pirie, G.H.: Measuring accessibility: a review and proposal. Environ. Plan. A 11(3), 299–312 (1979)CrossRef

Ritsema van Eck, J., Burghouwt, G., Dijst, M.: Lifestyles, spatial configurations and quality of life in daily travel: an explorative simulation study. J. Transp. Geogr. 13(2), 123–134 (2005)CrossRef

Russell, J.A.: A circumplex model of affect. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 39, 1161–1178 (1980)CrossRef

Russell, J.A.: Core affect and the psychological construction of emotion. Psychol. Rev. 110, 145–172 (2003)CrossRef

Schwanen, T., Lucas, K.: Understanding auto motives. In: Lucas, K., Blumenberg, E., Weinberger, R. (eds.) Auto Motives: Understanding Car Use Behaviours, pp. 3–38. Emerald Publishing Ltd, Bradford (2011)CrossRef

Schwanen, T., Mokhtarian, P.L.: The extent and determinants of dissonance between actual and preferred residential neighborhood type. Environ. Plan. B 31(5), 759–784 (2004)CrossRef

Schwanen, T., Mokhtarian, P.L.: What affects commute mode choice, neighbourhood physical structure or preferences toward neighborhoods? J. Transp. Geogr. 13(1), 83–99 (2005)CrossRef

Scollon, C.N., Kim-Prieto, C., Diener, E.: Experience sampling: promises and pitfalls, strengths and weaknesses. J. Happiness Stud. 4(1), 5–34 (2003)CrossRef

Stone, A.A., Shiffman, S.S., Devries, M.W.: Ecological momentary assessment. In: Kahneman, D., Diener, E., Schwarz, N. (eds.) Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology, pp. 26–39. Russel Sage Foundation, New York (1999)

Stutzer, A., Frey, B.S.: Stress that doesn’t pay: the commuting paradox. Scand. J. Econ. 110(2), 339–366 (2008)CrossRef

Van Acker, V., van Wee, B., Witlox, F.: When transport geography meets social psychology: toward a conceptual model of travel behaviour. Transp. Rev. 30(2), 219–240 (2010)CrossRef

van Wee, B.: Self-selection: a key to a better understanding of location choices, travel behaviour and transport externalities? Transport Reviews 29(3), 279–292 (2009)CrossRef

Västfjäll, D., Friman, M., Gärling, T., Kleiner, M.: The measurement of core affect: a Swedish self-report measure. Scand. J. Psychol. 43(1), 19–31 (2002)CrossRef

Västfjäll, D., Gärling, T.: Validation of a Swedish short self-report measure. Scand. J. Psychol. 48(3), 233–238 (2007)CrossRef

Watson, D., Clark, L.A., Tellegen, A.: Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 54(6), 1063–1070 (1988)CrossRef

Title: Travel mode choice and travel satisfaction: bridging the gap between decision utility and experienced utility
Authors: Jonas De Vos
Patricia L. Mokhtarian
Tim Schwanen
Veronique Van Acker
Frank Witlox
Publication date: 01-09-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Transportation / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 0049-4488
Electronic ISSN: 1572-9435
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-015-9619-9

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 5/2016

Analyzing time sensitivity to discomfort in the Paris subway: an interval data model approach

Costs and benefits of a bicycle helmet law for Germany

The limits of analyzing service quality data in public transport

Cordon tolls and competition between cities with symmetric and asymmetric interactions

Transit service quality analysis using cluster analysis and decision trees: a step forward to personalized marketing in public transportation

Social norms and public transport usage: empirical study from Shanghai

Premium Partner