IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i6p4851-d1092744.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Relationships between Multilevel Built Environments and Commute Durations in Dual-Earner Households: Does Gender Matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoquan Wang

    (College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Weifeng Wang

    (College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Chaoying Yin

    (College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

Abstract

The links between built environments (BE) and commute durations have been extensively studied. However, relatively few studies have considered the effects of BEs at different spatial levels within a unified framework, or identified the gendered relationships between BEs and commute durations. Using survey data from 3209 household couples in 97 Chinese cities, this study investigates the effects of neighborhood- and city-level BEs on commute durations and the potential differences in these effects between the male and female members of the same household couple. A multi-group generalized multilevel structural equation model is applied to reveal the gendered relationships between neighborhood- and city-level BEs and commute durations. The findings suggest that the BE variables at two levels have significant effects on the commute duration. The mediating roles that the traffic congestion, car ownership, and commuting modes play in linking these BEs and commute durations are confirmed. Both levels of the BE variables are more influential factors for males’ commuting durations. These findings have policy implications for the design of gender-equal transportation systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoquan Wang & Weifeng Wang & Chaoying Yin, 2023. "Exploring the Relationships between Multilevel Built Environments and Commute Durations in Dual-Earner Households: Does Gender Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4851-:d:1092744
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4851/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4851/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reid Ewing & Robert Cervero, 2010. "Travel and the Built Environment," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(3), pages 265-294.
    2. Cervero, Robert & Day, Jennifer, 2008. "Suburbanization and transit-oriented development in China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 315-323, September.
    3. Chidambaram, Bhuvanachithra & Scheiner, Joachim, 2020. "Understanding relative commuting within dual-earner couples in Germany," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 113-129.
    4. Zhikang Bao & Yifu Ou & Shuangzhou Chen & Ting Wang, 2022. "Land Use Impacts on Traffic Congestion Patterns: A Tale of a Northwestern Chinese City," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Ali Modarres, 2011. "Polycentricity, Commuting Pattern, Urban Form: The Case of Southern California," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(6), pages 1193-1211, November.
    6. Yang, Shuo & Fan, Yingling & Deng, Wei & Cheng, Long, 2019. "Do built environment effects on travel behavior differ between household members? A case study of Nanjing, China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 360-370.
    7. Weichang Kong & Dorina Pojani & Neil Sipe & Dominic Stead, 2021. "Transport Poverty in Chinese Cities: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.
    8. Yusak Susilo & Kees Maat, 2007. "The influence of built environment to the trends in commuting journeys in the Netherlands," Transportation, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 589-609, September.
    9. Huu Thanh Vu & Nguyen Minh Ha, 2021. "A Study on the Relationship Between Diversification and Firm Performance Using the GSEM Method," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 85-107, January.
    10. Ding, Chuan & Wang, Donggen & Liu, Chao & Zhang, Yi & Yang, Jiawen, 2017. "Exploring the influence of built environment on travel mode choice considering the mediating effects of car ownership and travel distance," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 65-80.
    11. Pengjun Zhao, 2013. "The Impact of Urban Sprawl on Social Segregation in Beijing and a Limited Role for Spatial Planning," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 104(5), pages 571-587, December.
    12. Boarnet, Marlon G. & Hsu, Hsin-Ping, 2015. "The gender gap in non-work travel: The relative roles of income earning potential and land use," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 111-127.
    13. Zheyan Chen & Dea van Lierop & Dick Ettema, 2020. "Exploring Dockless Bikeshare Usage: A Case Study of Beijing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    14. Wang, Xiaoquan & Yin, Chaoying & Zhang, Junyi & Shao, Chunfu & Wang, Shengyou, 2021. "Nonlinear effects of residential and workplace built environment on car dependence," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    15. Chaoying Yin & Chunfu Shao & Xiaoquan Wang, 2018. "Built Environment and Parking Availability: Impacts on Car Ownership and Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, July.
    16. Beck, Matthew J. & Hess, Stephane, 2016. "Willingness to accept longer commutes for better salaries: Understanding the differences within and between couples," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1-16.
    17. Zhang, Mengzhu & He, Shenjing & Zhao, Pengjun, 2018. "Revisiting inequalities in the commuting burden: Institutional constraints and job-housing relationships in Beijing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 58-71.
    18. Lara Engelfriet & Eric Koomen, 2018. "The impact of urban form on commuting in large Chinese cities," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(5), pages 1269-1295, September.
    19. Li, Shengxiao & Zhao, Pengjun, 2015. "The determinants of commuting mode choice among school children in Beijing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 112-121.
    20. Veronique Acker & Frank Witlox, 2011. "Commuting trips within tours: how is commuting related to land use?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 465-486, May.
    21. Yao, Mingzhu & Wang, Donggen, 2018. "Mobility and travel behavior in urban China: The role of institutional factors," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 122-131.
    22. Maat, Kees & Timmermans, Harry J.P., 2009. "Influence of the residential and work environment on car use in dual-earner households," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 654-664, August.
    23. Shin, Eun Jin, 2020. "Commuter benefits programs: Impacts on mode choice, VMT, and spillover effects," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 11-22.
    24. Zhao, Pengjun & Lü, Bin & Roo, Gert de, 2011. "Impact of the jobs-housing balance on urban commuting in Beijing in the transformation era," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 59-69.
    25. Mouratidis, Kostas & Ettema, Dick & Næss, Petter, 2019. "Urban form, travel behavior, and travel satisfaction," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 306-320.
    26. Sarjala, Satu, 2019. "Built environment determinants of pedestrians’ and bicyclists’ route choices on commute trips: Applying a new grid-based method for measuring the built environment along the route," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 56-69.
    27. Xiaoquan Wang & Chunfu Shao & Chaoying Yin & Chunjiao Dong, 2021. "Exploring the effects of the built environment on commuting mode choice in neighborhoods near public transit stations: evidence from China," Transportation Planning and Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(1), pages 111-127, January.
    28. Zhao, Pengjun, 2014. "Private motorised urban mobility in China’s large cities: the social causes of change and an agenda for future research," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 53-63.
    29. Jinhyun Hong & Qing Shen & Lei Zhang, 2014. "How do built-environment factors affect travel behavior? A spatial analysis at different geographic scales," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 419-440, May.
    30. Yingling Fan, 2017. "Household structure and gender differences in travel time: spouse/partner presence, parenthood, and breadwinner status," Transportation, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 271-291, March.
    31. Michael Shields & Stephen Wheatley Price & Mark Wooden, 2009. "Life satisfaction and the economic and social characteristics of neighbourhoods," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 22(2), pages 421-443, April.
    32. Le Yu & Binglei Xie & Edwin H. W. Chan, 2018. "How does the Built Environment Influence Public Transit Choice in Urban Villages in China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    33. Melia, Steve & Parkhurst, Graham & Barton, Hugh, 2011. "The paradox of intensification," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 46-52, January.
    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. Chaoying Yin & Xiaoquan Wang & Chunfu Shao & Jianxiao Ma, 2022. "Exploring the Relationship between Built Environment and Commuting Mode Choice: Longitudinal Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Bindong Sun & Chun Yin, 2020. "Impacts of a multi-scale built environment and its corresponding moderating effects on commute duration in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(10), pages 2115-2130, August.
    3. Weichang Kong & Dorina Pojani & Neil Sipe & Dominic Stead, 2021. "Transport Poverty in Chinese Cities: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Li, Chunjiang & Zhang, Yan & Chai, Yanwei, 2021. "Do spatial factors outweigh institutional factors? Changes in influencing factors of home-work separation from 2007 to 2017 in Beijing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    5. Wang, Xiaoquan & Yin, Chaoying & Zhang, Junyi & Shao, Chunfu & Wang, Shengyou, 2021. "Nonlinear effects of residential and workplace built environment on car dependence," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    6. Islam, Md Rabiul & Saphores, Jean-Daniel M., 2022. "An L.A. story: The impact of housing costs on commuting," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    7. Hu, Yang & van Wee, Bert & Ettema, Dick, 2023. "Intra-household decisions and the impact of the built environment on activity-travel behavior: A review of the literature," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    8. Zhao, Pengjun & Cao, Yushu, 2020. "Commuting inequity and its determinants in Shanghai: New findings from big-data analytics," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 20-37.
    9. Zhang, Mengzhu & Zhao, Pengjun, 2021. "Literature review on urban transport equity in transitional China: From empirical studies to universal knowledge," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    10. Ding, Chuan & Zhou, Xinyu & Jason Cao, Xinyu & Yang, Jiawen, 2023. "Spatial and mediation analysis of the influences of residential and workplace built environments on commuting by car," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    11. Xiaoquan Wang & Chunfu Shao & Chaoying Yin & Chengxiang Zhuge & Wenjun Li, 2018. "Application of Bayesian Multilevel Models Using Small and Medium Size City in China: The Case of Changchun," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Liu, Jixiang & Xiao, Longzhu, 2023. "Non-linear relationships between built environment and commuting duration of migrants and locals," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    13. Zheng, Zhong & Zhou, Suhong & Deng, Xingdong, 2021. "Exploring both home-based and work-based jobs-housing balance by distance decay effect," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    14. Guan, Xiaodong & Wang, Donggen, 2019. "Influences of the built environment on travel: A household-based perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 710-724.
    15. Mei Zhang & Jia Tang & Jun Gao, 2023. "Examining the Effects of Built Environments and Individual Characteristics on Commuting Time under Spatial Heterogeneity: An Empirical Study in China Using HLM," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, August.
    16. Havet, Nathalie & Bayart, Caroline & Bonnel, Patrick, 2021. "Why do Gender Differences in Daily Mobility Behaviours persist among workers?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 34-48.
    17. Feng Ren & Jinbo Zhang & Xiuyun Yang, 2023. "Study on the Effect of Job Accessibility and Residential Location on Housing Occupancy Rate: A Case Study of Xiamen, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, April.
    18. Ao, Yibin & Yang, Dujuan & Chen, Chuan & Wang, Yan, 2019. "Exploring the effects of the rural built environment on household car ownership after controlling for preference and attitude: Evidence from Sichuan, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 24-36.
    19. Guan, Xiaodong & Wang, Donggen, 2020. "The multiplicity of self-selection: What do travel attitudes influence first, residential location or work place?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    20. 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.

    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:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4851-:d:1092744. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.