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What Explains Active Travel Behaviour? Evidence from Case Studies in the UK

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  • Yena Song
  • John M Preston
  • Christian Brand

    (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3QY England)

Abstract

Walking and cycling are considered to be healthy and environmentally friendly modes of travel that can mitigate the harmful effects of motorised journeys. This study aims to reveal the individual and built environmental characteristics that are associated with these behaviours by examining the current level of walking and cycling for transport in three UK case-study areas. Obligatory and discretionary journeys were separately modelled under the assumption that different factors would affect mode choice. Over 70% of respondents incorporated walking and/or cycling into their weekly travel and about 15% had ridden bicycles at least once for nonrecreational purposes during the last seven days. We also found that more walking journeys were made for discretionary purposes compared with obligatory journeys whilst cycling was more common for obligatory journeys. Using the concept of the active travel share, we developed models analysing active travel behaviour. The results confirmed that both personal and household characteristics had clear associations with the tendency for nonmotorised travel. In particular, age, physical fitness, and vehicle ownership were significantly associated with active travel in all models. The built environment, on the other hand, had significant associations with active travel only for obligatory journeys with the exception of distance to the main activity site, which was found to be significant for both journey types.

Suggested Citation

  • Yena Song & John M Preston & Christian Brand, 2013. "What Explains Active Travel Behaviour? Evidence from Case Studies in the UK," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(12), pages 2980-2998, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:45:y:2013:i:12:p:2980-2998
    DOI: 10.1068/a4669
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Longzhu Xiao & Linchuan Yang & Jixiang Liu & Hongtai Yang, 2020. "Built Environment Correlates of the Propensity of Walking and Cycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Ratthaphong Meesit & Shongwut Puntoomjinda & Preeda Chaturabong & Sumethee Sontikul & Supattra Arunnapa, 2023. "Factors Affecting Travel Behaviour Change towards Active Mobility: A Case Study in a Thai University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Jarass, Julia & Scheiner, Joachim, 2018. "Residential self-selection and travel mode use in a new inner-city development neighbourhood in Berlin," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 68-77.
    6. Cook, Simon, 2021. "Geographies of run-commuting in the UK," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Ying Huang & Yongli Zhang & Feifan Deng & Daiqing Zhao & Rong Wu, 2022. "Impacts of Built-Environment on Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Traffic: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.
    8. Song, Yena & Hickford, Adrian & Preston, John, 2014. "Delivering sustainable public transport: The case of the Better Bus Area Fund," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 373-380.
    9. Erik Berglund & Per Lytsy & Ragnar Westerling, 2016. "Active Traveling and Its Associations with Self-Rated Health, BMI and Physical Activity: A Comparative Study in the Adult Swedish Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, April.

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