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Links between Attitudes, Mode Choice, and Travel Satisfaction: A Cross-Border Long-Commute Case Study

Author

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  • Philippe Gerber

    (LISER—Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), 4366 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

  • Marius Thériault

    (ESAD/CRAD, Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Christophe Enaux

    (UMR 7362 LIVE, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France)

  • Samuel Carpentier-Postel

    (ThéMA UMR 6049, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, CEDEX, France)

Abstract

This paper focuses on a particular form of high mobility, namely the long journeys to work generated by cross-border job market. More precisely, it studies the impact of such behaviors on well-being by analyzing the relationships between mode choice, transport-related attitudes, socio-demographic and spatial attributes, and the level of satisfaction in the context of cross-border long commutes to Luxembourg. The statistical modelling is rooted to a conceptual framework that emphasizes the mutual dependencies between attitudes, mode choice, and satisfaction. Based on a survey among long-distance commuters (N = 3093) held in 2010 and 2011, two ordered logistic regressions, one of which including latent constructs of transport-related attitudes derived from a structural equation modelling, are developed to explain satisfaction in commuting. Main findings are: (1) Travel-related attitudes influence satisfaction with travel more than socio-demographic attributes; (2) public transport users are globally more satisfied in commuting than car drivers; (3) the socio-economic model of satisfaction is plagued by omitted variables issues; (4) the attitude model of satisfaction drops all but one socio-economic attributes (education remains) while improving adjustment (Pseudo-R-squared = 0.57 versus 0.09; BIC = 2953 versus 6059) and avoiding omitted variables bias. The effect of attitudes and other latent constructs is of paramount importance, even concealing most socio-demographic attributes to assess satisfaction. The conclusion is devoted to a discussion on the sustainability of these cross-border long commutes from the individual, social, and environmental points of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Gerber & Marius Thériault & Christophe Enaux & Samuel Carpentier-Postel, 2020. "Links between Attitudes, Mode Choice, and Travel Satisfaction: A Cross-Border Long-Commute Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:9203-:d:440588
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    2. Barbora Mazúrová & Ján Kollár & Gabriela Nedelová, 2021. "Travel Mode of Commuting in Context of Subjective Well-Being—Experience from Slovakia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Yan Huang & Wei Lang & Tingting Chen & Jiemin Wu, 2023. "Regional Coordinated Development in the Megacity Regions: Spatial Pattern and Driving Forces of the Guangzhou-Foshan Cross-Border Area in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-27, March.
    4. Marco De Angelis & Luca Mantecchini & Luca Pietrantoni, 2021. "A Cluster Analysis of University Commuters: Attitudes, Personal Norms and Constraints, and Travel Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, April.

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