Determinants of green travel modes in old towns: Evidence from Beijing, China

Green travel is the key to achieving the balance of heritage preservation, economic development, and human settlements. This research explores the determinants of green travel mode choice of travelers residing in the old town of Beijing, China. Based on large-scale cross-sectional data, the descriptive statistics are used to analyze how travel mode distribution among residents in Beijing's old town varies with individual/household attributes, travel characteristics and weather conditions. Multinomial logistic (MNL) regression models are further employed for identifying and quantifying these determinants. The results recognize certain factors that negatively influence the use of green travel. These factors are car ownership, being male, off-peak hour travel, long travel distance. For travelers from car-owning households, additional negative factors are non-local hukou, high income, full-time employment or unemployment, and age 26–59. For travelers from car-free households, local hukou is a negative factor. Additionally, travelers from car-owning households are more likely to use vehicles, such as driving or riding as passengers, on rainy, cloudy, extremely hot, or severely polluted days. Three recommendations are provided on the basis of results from this study for the following systematic practice of old town planning and development, including optimizing travel structure, strengthening public education and promotion, and formulating differentiated supporting policies.