IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v124y2019icp82-114.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How do activities conducted while commuting influence mode choice? Using revealed preference models to inform public transportation advantage and autonomous vehicle scenarios

Author

Listed:
  • Malokin, Aliaksandr
  • Circella, Giovanni
  • Mokhtarian, Patricia L.

Abstract

From early studies of time allocation onward, it has been acknowledged that the “productive” nature of travel could affect its utility. Currently, at the margin an individual may choose transit over a shorter automobile trip, if thereby she is able to use the travel time more productively. On the other hand, recent advancements toward partly/fully automated vehicles are poised to revolutionize the perception and utilization of travel time in cars, and are further blurring the role of travel as a crisp transition between location-based activities. To quantify these effects, we created and administered a survey to measure travel multitasking attitudes and behaviors, together with general attitudes, mode-specific perceptions, and standard socioeconomic traits (N = 2229 Northern California commuters). In this paper, we present a revealed preference mode choice model that accounts for the impact of multitasking attitudes and behavior on the utility of various alternatives. We find that the propensity to engage in productive activities on the commute, operationalized as using a laptop/tablet, significantly influences utility and accounts for a small but non-trivial portion of the current mode shares. For example, the model estimates that commuter rail, transit, and car/vanpool shares would respectively be 0.11, 0.23, and 1.18 percentage points lower, and the drive-alone share 1.49 percentage points higher, if the option to use a laptop or tablet while commuting were not available. Conversely, in a hypothetical autonomous vehicles scenario, where the car would allow a high level of engagement in productive activities, the drive-alone share would increase by 1.48 percentage points. The results empirically demonstrate the potential of a multitasking propensity to reduce the disutility of travel time. Further, the methodology can be generalized to account for other properties of autonomous vehicles, among other applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Malokin, Aliaksandr & Circella, Giovanni & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2019. "How do activities conducted while commuting influence mode choice? Using revealed preference models to inform public transportation advantage and autonomous vehicle scenarios," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 82-114.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:124:y:2019:i:c:p:82-114
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2018.12.015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856416306772
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2018.12.015?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. Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2016. "Discrete choice models’ ρ2: A reintroduction to an old friend," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 60-65.
    2. Mattias Gripsrud & Randi Hjorthol, 2012. "Working on the train: from ‘dead time’ to productive and vital time," Transportation, Springer, vol. 39(5), pages 941-956, September.
    3. Zhi Dong & Patricia Mokhtarian & Giovanni Circella & James Allison, 2015. "The estimation of changes in rail ridership through an onboard survey: did free Wi-Fi make a difference to Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor service?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 123-142, January.
    4. Mokhtarian, Patricia L. & Salomon, Ilan, 2001. "How derived is the demand for travel? Some conceptual and measurement considerations," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 695-719, September.
    5. Nobuaki Ohmori & Noboru Harata, 2008. "How Different Are Activities While Commuting By Train? A Case In Tokyo," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 99(5), pages 547-561, December.
    6. Abrantes, Pedro A.L. & Wardman, Mark R., 2011. "Meta-analysis of UK values of travel time: An update," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Shires, J.D. & de Jong, G.C., 2009. "An international meta-analysis of values of travel time savings," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 315-325, November.
    8. Stephen DeLoach & Thomas Tiemann, 2012. "Not driving alone? American commuting in the twenty-first century," Transportation, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 521-537, May.
    9. Ettema, Dick & Friman, Margareta & Gärling, Tommy & Olsson, Lars E. & Fujii, Satoshi, 2012. "How in-vehicle activities affect work commuters’ satisfaction with public transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 215-222.
    10. Lyons, Glenn & Urry, John, 2005. "Travel time use in the information age," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2-3), pages 257-276.
    11. Giovanni Circella & Patricia L. Mokhtarian & Laura K. Poff, 2012. "A conceptual typology of multitasking behavior and polychronicity preferences," electronic International Journal of Time Use Research, Research Institute on Professions (Forschungsinstitut Freie Berufe (FFB)) and The International Association for Time Use Research (IATUR), vol. 9(1), pages 59-107, November.
    12. Imre Keseru & Cathy Macharis, 2018. "Travel-based multitasking: review of the empirical evidence," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(2), pages 162-183, March.
    13. Mark Wardman & Glenn Lyons, 2016. "The digital revolution and worthwhile use of travel time: implications for appraisal and forecasting," Transportation, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 507-530, May.
    14. Noelle Chesley, 2014. "Information and communication technology use, work intensification and employee strain and distress," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 28(4), pages 589-610, August.
    15. Rosenbloom, Sandra & Burns, Elizabeth, 1994. "Why Working Women Drive Alone: Implications for Travel Reduction Programs," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt4x17v3f1, University of California Transportation Center.
    16. Patricia Mokhtarian & Francis Papon & Matthieu Goulard & Marco Diana, 2015. "What makes travel pleasant and/or tiring? An investigation based on the French National Travel Survey," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1103-1128, November.
    17. John R. Hauser, 1978. "Testing the Accuracy, Usefulness, and Significance of Probabilistic Choice Models: An Information-Theoretic Approach," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 406-421, June.
    18. Zheng, Zuduo & Washington, Simon & Hyland, Paul & Sloan, Keith & Liu, Yulin, 2016. "Preference heterogeneity in mode choice based on a nationwide survey with a focus on urban rail," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 178-194.
    19. Jia Tang & Feng Zhen & Jason Cao & Patricia L. Mokhtarian, 2018. "How do passengers use travel time? A case study of Shanghai–Nanjing high speed rail," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 451-477, March.
    20. Bluedorn, Allen C. & Martin, Gwen, 2008. "The time frames of entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 1-20, January.
    21. Kenyon, Susan & Lyons, Glenn, 2007. "Introducing multitasking to the study of travel and ICT: Examining its extent and assessing its potential importance," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 161-175, February.
    22. Zorn, Christopher, 2005. "A Solution to Separation in Binary Response Models," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(2), pages 157-170, April.
    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. Molin, Eric & Adjenughwure, Kingsley & de Bruyn, Menno & Cats, Oded & Warffemius, Pim, 2020. "Does conducting activities while traveling reduce the value of time? Evidence from a within-subjects choice experiment," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 18-29.
    2. Aliaksandr Malokin & Giovanni Circella & Patricia L. Mokhtarian, 2021. "Do millennials value travel time differently because of productive multitasking? A revealed-preference study of Northern California commuters," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 2787-2823, October.
    3. Tang, Jia & Mokhtarian, Patricia L. & Zhen, Feng, 2020. "How do passengers allocate and evaluate their travel time? Evidence from a survey on the Shanghai–Nanjing high speed rail corridor, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Mark Wardman & Phani Chintakayala & Chris Heywood, 2020. "The valuation and demand impacts of the worthwhile use of travel time with specific reference to the digital revolution and endogeneity," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1515-1540, June.
    5. Muhamad Rizki & Tri Basuki Joewono & Dimas B. E. Dharmowijoyo & Prawira Fajarindra Belgiawan, 2021. "Does multitasking improve the travel experience of public transport users? Investigating the activities during commuter travels in the Bandung Metropolitan Area, Indonesia," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 429-454, June.
    6. Shamshiripour, Ali & Rahimi, Ehsan & (Kouros) Mohammadian, Abolfazl & Auld, Joshua, 2020. "Investigating the influence of latent lifestyles on productive travels: Insights into designing autonomous transit system," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 469-484.
    7. Choi, Sungtaek & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2020. "How attractive is it to use the internet while commuting? A work-attitude-based segmentation of Northern California commuters," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 37-50.
    8. Bouscasse, Hélène & de Lapparent, Matthieu, 2019. "Perceived comfort and values of travel time savings in the Rhône-Alpes Region," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 370-387.
    9. Bounie, Nathan & Adoue, François & Koning, Martin & L'Hostis, Alain, 2019. "What value do travelers put on connectivity to mobile phone and Internet networks in public transport? Empirical evidence from the Paris region," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 158-177.
    10. Pawlak, Jacek & Polak, John W. & Sivakumar, Aruna, 2017. "A framework for joint modelling of activity choice, duration, and productivity while travelling," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 153-172.
    11. Palma, David & Calastri, Chiara & Pawlak, Jacek, 2023. "The role of time budgets in models of multi-tasking while travelling: A comparison between the MDCEV and eMDC approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    12. Chiara Calastri & Jacek Pawlak & Richard Batley, 2022. "Participation in online activities while travelling: an application of the MDCEV model in the context of rail travel," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 61-87, February.
    13. Jia Tang & Feng Zhen & Jason Cao & Patricia L. Mokhtarian, 2018. "How do passengers use travel time? A case study of Shanghai–Nanjing high speed rail," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 451-477, March.
    14. Lyons, Glenn & Jain, Juliet & Weir, Iain, 2016. "Changing times – A decade of empirical insight into the experience of rail passengers in Great Britain," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 94-104.
    15. Frei, Charlotte & Mahmassani, Hani S. & Frei, Andreas, 2015. "Making time count: Traveler activity engagement on urban transit," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 58-70.
    16. Imre Keseru & Cathy Macharis, 2018. "Travel-based multitasking: review of the empirical evidence," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(2), pages 162-183, March.
    17. Jingya Gao & Andisheh Ranjbari & Don MacKenzie, 2019. "Would being driven by others affect the value of travel time? Ridehailing as an analogy for automated vehicles," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 2103-2116, December.
    18. Patricia L. Mokhtarian, 2019. "Subjective well-being and travel: retrospect and prospect," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 493-513, April.
    19. Sun, Shanshan & Wong, Yiik Diew, 2023. "Drivers’ attention economy and adoption to autonomous vehicle," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 108-118.
    20. Glenn Lyons & Juliet Jain & Yusak Susilo & Stephen Atkins, 2013. "Comparing Rail Passengers' Travel Time Use in Great Britain Between 2004 and 2010," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(4), pages 560-579, November.

    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:eee:transa:v:124:y:2019:i:c:p:82-114. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    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.