IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v193y2025ics0965856425000278.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Subjectivity matters: Investigating the relationship between perceived accessibility and travel behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Negm, Hisham
  • El-Geneidy, Ahmed

Abstract

Accessibility, the ease of reaching destinations, encompass local and regional metrics used to evaluate the performance of the land use and transport systems in a region. These measures are known to impact individuals’ travel behaviour, which led to their adoption in practice as performance indicators to evaluate transport projects and plans, monitor progress towards equity goals, and evaluate changes induced by various policies. However, calculated measures of accessibility do not account for individuals’ experiences and perceptions, which play a pivotal role in travel behaviour. This research examines the relationship between travel behaviour and perceived accessibility, while accounting for calculated accessibility, residential selection, travel identity, and individual characteristics. Using data from a large-scale bilingual online survey administered in Montreal, Canada in Fall 2023 (N = 5,277), we perform statistical analyses at both local and regional levels to model weekly mode shares for walking and public transit, respectively. Calculated accessibility is accounted for locally using Walk Score® and regionally using cumulative opportunities accessibility measures by public transit. Our findings reveal that perceived accessibility by walking and public transit positively impact the weekly walking and transit mode share, respectively, for all purposes. Accounting for calculated accessibility and travel identity is important to avoid overestimating the influence of perceived accessibility on travel behaviour. This research provides transport professionals a nuanced understanding of the link between accessibility (perceived and calculated) and travel behaviour, offering insights for promoting the use of sustainable travel modes.

Suggested Citation

  • Negm, Hisham & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2025. "Subjectivity matters: Investigating the relationship between perceived accessibility and travel behaviour," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:193:y:2025:i:c:s0965856425000278
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104399
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856425000278
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104399?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kamruzzaman, Md. & Shatu, Farjana Mostafiz & Hine, Julian & Turrell, Gavin, 2015. "Commuting mode choice in transit oriented development: Disentangling the effects of competitive neighbourhoods, travel attitudes, and self-selection," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 187-196.
    2. Jonas De Vos & Patrick A. Singleton & Tommy Gärling, 2022. "From attitude to satisfaction: introducing the travel mode choice cycle," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(2), pages 204-221, March.
    3. Ton, Danique & Bekhor, Shlomo & Cats, Oded & Duives, Dorine C. & Hoogendoorn-Lanser, Sascha & Hoogendoorn, Serge P., 2020. "The experienced mode choice set and its determinants: Commuting trips in the Netherlands," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 744-758.
    4. Buehler, Ralph, 2011. "Determinants of transport mode choice: a comparison of Germany and the USA," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 644-657.
    5. Boisjoly, Geneviève & El-Geneidy, Ahmed M., 2017. "How to get there? A critical assessment of accessibility objectives and indicators in metropolitan transportation plans," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 38-50.
    6. Pot, Felix Johan & Koster, Sierdjan & Tillema, Taede, 2023. "Perceived accessibility and residential self-selection in the Netherlands," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    7. Lionjanga, Nahungu & Venter, Christo, 2018. "Does public transport accessibility enhance subjective well-being? A study of the City of Johannesburg," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 523-535.
    8. Adriana A. Zuniga-Teran & Barron J. Orr & Randy H. Gimblett & Nader V. Chalfoun & David P. Guertin & Stuart E. Marsh, 2017. "Neighborhood Design, Physical Activity, and Wellbeing: Applying the Walkability Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-23, January.
    9. Lättman, Katrin & Olsson, Lars E. & Friman, Margareta, 2018. "A new approach to accessibility – Examining perceived accessibility in contrast to objectively measured accessibility in daily travel," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 501-511.
    10. van Wee, Bert, 2016. "Accessible accessibility research challenges," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 9-16.
    11. Wachs, Martin & Kumagai, T. Gordon, 1973. "Physical accessibility as a social indicator," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 7(5), pages 437-456, October.
    12. Lin, Tao & Wang, Donggen & Guan, Xiaodong, 2017. "The built environment, travel attitude, and travel behavior: Residential self-selection or residential determination?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 111-122.
    13. Ahmed El-Geneidy & David Levinson, 2022. "Making accessibility work in practice," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(2), pages 129-133, March.
    14. David Levinson & Hao Wu, 2020. "Towards a general theory of access," Working Papers 2022-01, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    15. Sukhov, Alexandre & Friman, Margareta & Olsson, Lars E., 2023. "Unlocking potential: An integrated approach using PLS-SEM, NCA, and fsQCA for informed decision making," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    16. Negm, Hisham & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2024. "Exploring the changes in the interrelation between public transit mode share and accessibility across income groups in major Canadian cities in the post-pandemic era," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    17. Ryan, Jean & Pereira, Rafael H.M., 2021. "What are we missing when we measure accessibility? Comparing calculated and self-reported accounts among older people," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    18. Owen, Andrew & Levinson, David M., 2015. "Modeling the commute mode share of transit using continuous accessibility to jobs," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 110-122.
    19. Pot, Felix Johan & Koster, Sierdjan & Tillema, Taede, 2023. "Perceived accessibility in Dutch rural areas: Bridging the gap with accessibility based on spatial data," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 170-184.
    20. Jonas De Vos & Katrin Lättman & Anna-Lena van der Vlugt & Janina Welsch & Noriko Otsuka, 2023. "Determinants and effects of perceived walkability: a literature review, conceptual model and research agenda," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(2), pages 303-324, March.
    21. Ding, Chuan & Cao, Xinyu & Yu, Bin & Ju, Yang, 2021. "Non-linear associations between zonal built environment attributes and transit commuting mode choice accounting for spatial heterogeneity," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 22-35.
    22. Michael Grimsrud & Ahmed El-Geneidy, 2014. "Transit to eternal youth: lifecycle and generational trends in Greater Montreal public transport mode share," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 1-19, January.
    23. Mehdizadeh, Milad & Kroesen, Maarten, 2025. "Does perceived accessibility affect travel behavior or vice versa? Alternative theories testing bidirectional effects and (in)consistency over time," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    24. Lättman, Katrin & Olsson, Lars E. & Friman, Margareta, 2016. "Development and test of the Perceived Accessibility Scale (PAC) in public transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 257-263.
    25. Moniruzzaman, Md & Páez, Antonio, 2012. "Accessibility to transit, by transit, and mode share: application of a logistic model with spatial filters," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 198-205.
    26. Deboosere, Robbin & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2018. "Evaluating equity and accessibility to jobs by public transport across Canada," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 54-63.
    27. Vafeiadis, Evangelos & Elldér, Erik, 2024. "Correlates of perceived accessibility across transport modes and trip purposes: Insights from a Swedish survey," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    28. Foth, Nicole & Manaugh, Kevin & El-Geneidy, Ahmed M., 2013. "Towards equitable transit: examining transit accessibility and social need in Toronto, Canada, 1996–2006," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 1-10.
    29. Boisjoly, Geneviève & El-Geneidy, Ahmed M., 2017. "The insider: A planners' perspective on accessibility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 33-43.
    30. Fitwi Wolday & Lars Böcker, 2023. "Exploring changes in residential preference during COVID-19: Implications to contemporary urban planning," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 50(5), pages 1280-1297, June.
    31. Ha, Jaehyun & Lee, Sugie & Ko, Joonho, 2020. "Unraveling the impact of travel time, cost, and transit burdens on commute mode choice for different income and age groups," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 147-166.
    32. Pot, Felix Johan & van Wee, Bert & Tillema, Taede, 2021. "Perceived accessibility: What it is and why it differs from calculated accessibility measures based on spatial data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    33. Kapatsila, Bogdan & Palacios, Manuel Santana & Grisé, Emily & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2023. "Resolving the accessibility dilemma: Comparing cumulative and gravity-based measures of accessibility in eight Canadian cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    34. Kroesen, Maarten & Handy, Susan & Chorus, Caspar, 2017. "Do attitudes cause behavior or vice versa? An alternative conceptualization of the attitude-behavior relationship in travel behavior modeling," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 190-202.
    35. Scheiner, Joachim, 2014. "Gendered key events in the life course: effects on changes in travel mode choice over time," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 47-60.
    36. Handy, Susan & Cao, Xinyu & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2005. "Correlation or causality between the built environment and travel behavior? Evidence from Northern California," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt5b76c5kg, University of California Transportation Center.
    37. Laura McCarthy & Alexa Delbosc & Maarten Kroesen & Mathijs Haas, 2023. "Travel attitudes or behaviours: Which one changes when they conflict?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 25-42, February.
    38. Joachim Scheiner & Christian Holz-Rau, 2007. "Travel mode choice: affected by objective or subjective determinants?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 487-511, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. De Vos, Jonas, 2024. "The ease of travel: A person-based measure of people’s ability to travel," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Moleman, Milan L. & Kroesen, Maarten, 2025. "Revealing accessibility disparities: A latent class analysis linking objective and subjective accessibility measures," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Pot, Felix Johan & van Wee, Bert & Tillema, Taede, 2021. "Perceived accessibility: What it is and why it differs from calculated accessibility measures based on spatial data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. Nguyen-Phuoc, Duy Quy & Pham, Son Truong & Nguyen, Thao Phuong Thi & Su, Diep Ngoc & Luu, Tuan Trong & Oviedo-Trespalacios, Oscar, 2025. "Exploring the switch to urban train services: The impact of perceived accessibility and its moderating effects," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Negm, Hisham & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2024. "Exploring the changes in the interrelation between public transit mode share and accessibility across income groups in major Canadian cities in the post-pandemic era," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    6. Lussier-Tomaszewski, P. & Boisjoly, G., 2021. "Thinking regional and acting local: Assessing the joint influence of local and regional accessibility on commute mode in Montreal, Canada," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    7. Pot, Felix Johan & Koster, Sierdjan & Tillema, Taede, 2023. "Perceived accessibility in Dutch rural areas: Bridging the gap with accessibility based on spatial data," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 170-184.
    8. Jarass, Julia & Scheiner, Joachim, 2018. "Residential self-selection and travel mode use in a new inner-city development neighbourhood in Berlin," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 68-77.
    9. Deboosere, Robbin & El-Geneidy, Ahmed M. & Levinson, David, 2018. "Accessibility-oriented development," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 11-20.
    10. Ben-Elia, Eran & Benenson, Itzhak, 2019. "A spatially-explicit method for analyzing the equity of transit commuters' accessibility," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 31-42.
    11. Pot, Felix Johan & Koster, Sierdjan & Tillema, Taede, 2023. "Perceived accessibility and residential self-selection in the Netherlands," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    12. El Murr, Karl & Boisjoly, Genevieve & Waygood, E.O.D., 2023. "Measuring accessibility to parks: Analyzing the relationship between self-reported and calculated measures," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    13. Ryan, Jean & Pereira, Rafael H.M. & Andersson, Magnus, 2023. "Accessibility and space-time differences in when and how different groups (choose to) travel," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    14. Blandin, Lola & Vecchio, Giovanni & Hurtubia, Ricardo & Tiznado-Aitken, Ignacio, 2024. "Car dependency in the urban margins: The influence of perceived accessibility on mode choice," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Moleman, Milan L. & Kroesen, Maarten, 2025. "Exploring the interplay of transport, social, and geographical disadvantages and its effect on perceived inaccessibility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    16. Zhu, Le & Lucas, Karen & Hess, Martin, 2024. "Understanding the relationship between perceived accessibility, housing and transport equity of different types of residents: A structural equation modelling approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    17. Vafeiadis, Evangelos & Elldér, Erik, 2024. "Correlates of perceived accessibility across transport modes and trip purposes: Insights from a Swedish survey," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    18. Javanmard, Reyhane & Lee, Jinhyung & Kim, Kyusik & Park, Jinwoo & Diab, Ehab, 2024. "Evaluating the impacts of supply-demand dynamics and distance decay effects on public transit project assessment: A study of healthcare accessibility and inequalities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    19. Zha, Wenbin & Li, Jian, 2025. "Understanding commuters' perceived accessibility and travel intentions under rainstorm warnings in Shanghai, China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 276-294.
    20. Singh, Abhilash C. & Faghih Imani, Ahmadreza & Sivakumar, Aruna & Luna Xi, Yang & Miller, Eric J., 2024. "A joint analysis of accessibility and household trip frequencies by travel mode," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:193:y:2025:i:c:s0965856425000278. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.