Impacts of integrated mobility concepts in residential complexes on residents’ travel behavior

Car-based mobility is a significant contributor to inefficient land use, global carbon emissions, and air pollution, exacerbating urban challenges such as congestion and mobility inequality. Integrated Mobility Concepts (IMCs) in residential complexes have emerged as a promising solution, combing urban planning with sustainable transport strategies through both restrictive (push) and incentive-based (pull) measures to reduce car dependency in residential complexes. This study investigates the impact of IMCs on travel behavior by analyzing survey data from 911 residents across 19 residential complexes in Switzerland, spanning both urban and suburban contexts. The methodology involved comparing mobility patterns between 10 complexes with IMCs and 9 without, utilizing both traditional statistical methods and machine learning models. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used for group comparisons, while multivariate regression and machine learning techniques, such as Random Forest and Lasso regression, were applied to identify key predictors of car ownership and use. The results show that urban complexes with IMCs experience 39% lower car ownership and significantly reduced reliance on private motorized transport (9% of trips, compared to 17% in conventional complexes). Parking availability was identified as the most critical factor influencing car ownership and transport behavior, with a pronounced self-selection effect where residents with sustainable mobility preferences are more likely to choose these complexes. These findings emphasize the need for context-specific mobility solutions, as the impact of IMCs is heterogeneous and varies across different demographic and spatial contexts.