IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/transp/v52y2025i1d10.1007_s11116-023-10410-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How do baby boomers travel differently from the silent generation?

Author

Listed:
  • Shengxiao (Alex) Li

    (University of California Riverside)

Abstract

In the U.S., the acceleration of suburbanization and highway development has been driven partly by the requirements of the Baby Boomers, a generation born between 1946 and 1964. Practitioners and scholars believe that the Baby Boomers’ travel patterns are dramatically different from those of previous cohorts, due to their heavy reliance on motor vehicles. However, this argument might mask a socioeconomic heterogeneity among this generation; and changing social and technological environments, such as delayed retirement and the increasing popularity of communication technology, might have reshaped this generation’s travel patterns. Using the 2001 and 2017 U.S. National Household Travel Surveys (NHTSs), this study examines how vehicle travel by people aged 56–71 (the Baby Boomers) in 2017 differs from that of the same age group (referred to as the Silent Generation) in 2001. Descriptive analysis shows that the overall distance traveled in vehicles by this age group slightly increased between 2001 and 2017. However, travel frequency declined. Regression results show that, all else being equal, Baby Boomers in 2017 had lower VMT and took fewer vehicle trips than the Silent Generation in 2001. These results also show how the relationship between socioeconomic attributes, the built environment and vehicle travel differs between the two generations. For example, results show that gender and racial disparities in vehicle travel are narrower among the Baby Boomers than they were among the Silent Generation, while retirement and having a college degree have a stronger relationship with vehicle travel among Boomers. Results show the necessity of factoring in such sociodemographic diversity, along with the impact of population aging as a whole on demand for vehicle travel, when devising future transportation policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Shengxiao (Alex) Li, 2025. "How do baby boomers travel differently from the silent generation?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 1-28, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:52:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11116-023-10410-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-023-10410-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11116-023-10410-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11116-023-10410-3?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. Macfarlane, Gregory S. & Garrow, Laurie A. & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2015. "The influences of past and present residential locations on vehicle ownership decisions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 186-200.
    2. Rachel Weinberger & Frank Goetzke, 2010. "Unpacking Preference: How Previous Experience Affects Auto Ownership in the United States," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(10), pages 2111-2128, September.
    3. Wang, Xize, 2019. "Has the relationship between urban and suburban automobile travel changed across generations? Comparing Millennials and Generation Xers in the United States," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 107-122.
    4. Sandra Rosenbloom, 2001. "Sustainability and automobility among the elderly: An international assessment," Transportation, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 375-408, November.
    5. repec:osf:socarx:2y5vj_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Nordbakke, Susanne, 2013. "Capabilities for mobility among urban older women: barriers, strategies and options," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 166-174.
    7. Venu M. Garikapati & Ram M. Pendyala & Eric A. Morris & Patricia L. Mokhtarian & Noreen McDonald, 2016. "Activity patterns, time use, and travel of millennials: a generation in transition?," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(5), pages 558-584, September.
    8. Berg, Jessica & Levin, Lena & Abramsson, Marianne & Hagberg, Jan-Erik, 2014. "Mobility in the transition to retirement – the intertwining of transportation and everyday projects," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 48-54.
    9. Delbosc, Alexa & Nakanishi, Hitomi, 2017. "A life course perspective on the travel of Australian millennials," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 319-336.
    10. Zhang, Ming & Li, Yang, 2022. "Generational travel patterns in the United States: New insights from eight national travel surveys," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1-13.
    11. Wang, Kailai & Wang, Xize, 2021. "Generational Differences in Automobility: Comparing America's Millennials and Gen Xers Using Gradient Boosting Decision Trees," SocArXiv n3a9e, Center for Open Science.
    12. repec:osf:socarx:n3a9e_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Wang, Xize, 2019. "Has the Relationship between Urban and Suburban Automobile Travel Changed across Generations? Comparing Millennials and Generation Xers in the United States," SocArXiv 2y5vj, Center for Open Science.
    14. Luis Miranda-Moreno & Martin Lee-Gosselin, 2008. "A week in the life of baby boomers: how do they see the spatial–temporal organization of their activities and travel?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 35(5), pages 629-653, August.
    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. repec:osf:socarx:dj8av_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Kailai Wang & Xize Wang, 2022. "Generational Differences in Automobility: Comparing America's Millennials and Gen Xers Using Gradient Boosting Decision Trees," Papers 2206.11056, arXiv.org.
    3. Morris, Eric A. & Speroni, Samuel & Taylor, Brian D., 2023. "Going nowhere fast: Might changing activity patterns help explain falling travel?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. Ryan, Jean & Wretstrand, Anders & Schmidt, Steven M., 2015. "Exploring public transport as an element of older persons' mobility: A Capability Approach perspective," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 105-114.
    5. Lovejoy, Kristin, 2012. "Mobility Fulfillment Among Low-car Households: Implications for Reducing Auto Dependence in the United States," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt4v44b5qn, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    6. Jean Ryan, 2020. "Examining the Process of Modal Choice for Everyday Travel Among Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Haseeb, Attiya & Mitra, Raktim, 2024. "Travel behaviour changes among young adults and associated implications for social sustainability," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    8. Klein, Nicholas J. & Guerra, Erick & Smart, Michael J., 2018. "The Philadelphia story: Age, race, gender and changing travel trends," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 19-25.
    9. Xu, JieLan, 2020. "Generational trends of gendered mobility: How do they interact with geographical contexts?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    10. Li, Xinghua & Yang, Yueyi & Guo, Yuntao & Souders, Dustin & Li, Jian, 2023. "Understanding the role of risk perception and health measures in ridesourcing usage in the post-COVID-19 era," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    11. De Vos, Jonas & Alemi, Farzad, 2020. "Are young adults car-loving urbanites? Comparing young and older adults’ residential location choice, travel behavior and attitudes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 986-998.
    12. Figueroa, Maria J. & Nielsen, Thomas A. Sick & Siren, Anu, 2014. "Comparing urban form correlations of the travel patterns of older and younger adults," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 10-20.
    13. Xiaohong Chen & Tianhao Li & Quan Yuan, 2023. "Impacts of built environment on travel behaviors of Generation Z: a longitudinal perspective," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 407-436, April.
    14. Yu, Shaolu, 2016. "“I am like a deaf, dumb and blind person”: Mobility and immobility of Chinese (im)migrants in Flushing, Queens, New York City," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 10-21.
    15. Urbanek, Anna & Acedański, Jan & Krawczyk, Grzegorz, 2023. "Depopulation or ageing? Decomposing the aggregate effects of projected demographic changes on urban transport systems," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    16. Wang, Xize & Liu, Tao, 2022. "The Roads One Must Walk Down: Commute and Depression for Beijing’s Residents," SocArXiv dj8av, Center for Open Science.
    17. Annesha Enam & Karthik C. Konduri & Naveen Eluru & Srinath Ravulaparthy, 2018. "Relationship between well-being and daily time use of elderly: evidence from the disabilities and use of time survey," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 1783-1810, November.
    18. Monteiro, Mayara Moraes & de Abreu e Silva, João & Haustein, Sonja & Pinho de Sousa, Jorge, 2021. "Urban travel behavior adaptation of temporary transnational residents," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    19. Shahadat Hossain, Md & Rahman Fatmi, Mahmudur, 2022. "Modeling individuals’ preferences towards different levels of vehicle autonomy: A random parameter rank-ordered logit model," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 88-99.
    20. Susanne Nordbakke & Tim Schwanen, 2015. "Transport, unmet activity needs and wellbeing in later life: exploring the links," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1129-1151, November.
    21. Carlo Luiu & Miles Tight & Michael Burrow, 2018. "Factors Preventing the Use of Alternative Transport Modes to the Car in Later Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.

    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:kap:transp:v:52:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11116-023-10410-3. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.