IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/transp/v42y2015i6p1081-1101.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The multimodal majority? Driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation use among American adults

Author

Listed:
  • Ralph Buehler
  • Andrea Hamre

Abstract

Multimodality, the use of more than one mode of transportation during a specified time period, is gaining recognition as an important mechanism for reducing automobile dependence by shifting trips from automobiles to walking, cycling, or public transportation. Most prior research on multimodality focuses on Western European countries. Based on the 2001 and 2009 National Household Travel Surveys, this paper analyzes trends and determinants of multimodal car use in the U.S. during a typical week by distinguishing between (1) monomodal car users who drive or ride in a car for all trips, (2) multimodal car users who drive or ride in a car and also use non-automobile modes, and (3) individuals who exclusively walk, cycle, and/or ride public transportation. We find that during a typical week a majority—almost two thirds—of Americans use a car and make at least one trip by foot, bicycle, or public transportation. One in four Americans uses a car and makes at least seven weekly trips by other modes of transportation. Results from multinomial and logistic regression analyses suggest there may be a continuum of mobility types ranging from monomodal car users to walk, bicycle, and/or public transportation only users—with multimodal car users positioned in-between the two extremes. Policy changes aimed at curtailing car use may result in movements along this spectrum with increasing multimodality for car users. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Ralph Buehler & Andrea Hamre, 2015. "The multimodal majority? Driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation use among American adults," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1081-1101, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:42:y:2015:i:6:p:1081-1101
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-014-9556-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s11116-014-9556-z
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11116-014-9556-z?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. Xiaodong Wang, 2012. "What Lessons Can be Learned from the Doha Round?," Chapters, in: Jan Wouters & Tanguy de Wilde & Pierre Defraigne & Jean-Christophe Defraigne (ed.), China, the European Union and Global Governance, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Givoni, Moshe & Rietveld, Piet, 2007. "The access journey to the railway station and its role in passengers' satisfaction with rail travel," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(5), pages 357-365, September.
    3. Kay Axhausen & Andrea Zimmermann & Stefan Schönfelder & Guido Rindsfüser & Thomas Haupt, 2002. "Observing the rhythms of daily life: A six-week travel diary," Transportation, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 95-124, May.
    4. Brons, Martijn & Givoni, Moshe & Rietveld, Piet, 2009. "Access to railway stations and its potential in increasing rail use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 136-149, February.
    5. Robert Schlich & Kay Axhausen, 2003. "Habitual travel behaviour: Evidence from a six-week travel diary," Transportation, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 13-36, February.
    6. Rietveld, P. & Bruinsma, F. R. & van Vuuren, D. J., 2001. "Coping with unreliability in public transport chains: A case study for Netherlands," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 539-559, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Timmer, Sebastian & Merfeld, Katrin & Henkel, Sven, 2023. "Exploring motivations for multimodal commuting: A hierarchical means-end chain analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Molin, Eric & Mokhtarian, Patricia & Kroesen, Maarten, 2016. "Multimodal travel groups and attitudes: A latent class cluster analysis of Dutch travelers," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 14-29.
    3. Imhof, Sebastian & Blättler, Kevin, 2023. "Assessing spatial characteristics to predict DRT demand in rural Switzerland," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    4. Wang, Fenglong & Mao, Zidan & Wang, Donggen, 2020. "Residential relocation and travel satisfaction change: An empirical study in Beijing, China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 341-353.
    5. Tanjeeb Ahmed & Michael Hyland, 2023. "Exploring the role of ride-hailing in trip chains," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(3), pages 959-1002, June.
    6. Eva Heinen & Giulio Mattioli, 2019. "Does a high level of multimodality mean less car use? An exploration of multimodality trends in England," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 1093-1126, August.
    7. Groth, Sören, 2019. "Multimodal divide: Reproduction of transport poverty in smart mobility trends," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 56-71.
    8. Scheiner, Joachim & Chatterjee, Kiron & Heinen, Eva, 2016. "Key events and multimodality: A life course approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 148-165.
    9. Li, Chunzhi & Xiao, Wei & Zhang, Dayong & Ji, Qiang, 2021. "Low-carbon transformation of cities: Understanding the demand for dockless bike sharing in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    10. Fu, Xingxing & van Lierop, Dea & Ettema, Dick, 2024. "Is multimodality advantageous? Assessing the relationship between multimodality and perceived transport adequacy and accessibility in different travel contexts," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    11. Mehdizadeh, Milad & Zavareh, Mohsen Fallah & Nordfjaern, Trond, 2019. "Mono- and multimodal green transport use on university trips during winter and summer: Hybrid choice models on the norm-activation theory," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 317-332.
    12. Khatun, Farzana & Saphores, Jean-Daniel, 2023. "Covid-19, intentions to change modes, and how they materialized - Results from a random survey of Californians," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    13. Sagaris, Lake & Arora, Anvita, 2016. "Evaluating how cycle-bus integration could contribute to “sustainable” transport," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 218-227.
    14. Bergantino, Angela Stefania & Intini, Mario & Tangari, Luca, 2021. "Influencing factors for potential bike-sharing users: an empirical analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    15. Shaheen, Susan & Martin, Elliot & Cohen, Adam & Musunuri, Apoorva & Bhattacharyya, Abhinav, 2016. "Mobile Apps and Transportation: A Review of Smartphone Apps and A Study of User Response to Multimodal Traveler Information," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt0cx0d1b8, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    16. Yang, Xu-Hua & Cheng, Zhi & Chen, Guang & Wang, Lei & Ruan, Zhong-Yuan & Zheng, Yu-Jun, 2018. "The impact of a public bicycle-sharing system on urban public transport networks," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 246-256.
    17. Lixun Liu & Yujiang Wang & Robin Hickman, 2023. "How Rail Transit Makes a Difference in People’s Multimodal Travel Behaviours: An Analysis with the XGBoost Method," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, March.
    18. Sfeir, Georges & Abou-Zeid, Maya & Kaysi, Isam, 2020. "Multivariate count data models for adoption of new transport modes in an organization-based context," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 59-75.
    19. Choi, Yunkyung & Guhathakurta, Subhrajit, 2024. "Unraveling the diversity in transit-oriented development," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    20. Klinger, Thomas, 2017. "Moving from monomodality to multimodality? Changes in mode choice of new residents," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 221-237.
    21. Milad Mehdizadeh & Alireza Ermagun, 2020. "“I’ll never stop driving my child to school”: on multimodal and monomodal car users," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1071-1102, June.
    22. Timmer, Sebastian & Bösehans, Gustav & Henkel, Sven, 2023. "Behavioural norms or personal gains? – An empirical analysis of commuters‘ intention to switch to multimodal mobility behaviour," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    23. Oostendorp, Rebekka & Gebhardt, Laura, 2018. "Combining means of transport as a users' strategy to optimize traveling in an urban context: empirical results on intermodal travel behavior from a survey in Berlin," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 72-83.
    24. Alonso-González, María J. & Hoogendoorn-Lanser, Sascha & van Oort, Niels & Cats, Oded & Hoogendoorn, Serge, 2020. "Drivers and barriers in adopting Mobility as a Service (MaaS) – A latent class cluster analysis of attitudes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 378-401.
    25. Bautista-Hernández, Dorian Antonio & Trejo Nieto, Alejandra, 2024. "Who uses transit in the journey to work? Multimodality, equity, and planning implications in México City," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).

    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. Milad Mehdizadeh & Alireza Ermagun, 2020. "“I’ll never stop driving my child to school”: on multimodal and monomodal car users," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1071-1102, June.
    2. Heinen, Eva & Chatterjee, Kiron, 2015. "The same mode again? An exploration of mode choice variability in Great Britain using the National Travel Survey," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 266-282.
    3. Pucher, John & Buehler, Ralph & Seinen, Mark, 2011. "Bicycling renaissance in North America? An update and re-appraisal of cycling trends and policies," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 45(6), pages 451-475, July.
    4. Lahoorpoor, Bahman & Levinson, David M., 2020. "Catchment if you can: The effect of station entrance and exit locations on accessibility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Weliwitiya, Hesara & Rose, Geoffrey & Johnson, Marilyn, 2019. "Bicycle train intermodality: Effects of demography, station characteristics and the built environment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 395-404.
    6. Roberto Sañudo & Eneko Echaniz & Borja Alonso & Rubén Cordera, 2019. "Addressing the Importance of Service Attributes in Railways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, June.
    7. Lissy La Paix & Karst Geurs, 2015. "Scenarios for measuring station-based impedances in a national transport model," ERSA conference papers ersa15p1310, European Regional Science Association.
    8. Nocera, Silvio & Pungillo, Giuseppe & Bruzzone, Francesco, 2021. "How to evaluate and plan the freight-passengers first-last mile," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 56-66.
    9. Minnen, Joeri & Glorieux, Ignace & van Tienoven, Theun Pieter, 2015. "Transportation habits: Evidence from time diary data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 25-37.
    10. Charles Raux & Tai-Yu Ma & Eric Cornelis, 2011. "Variability versus stability in daily travel and activity behaviour. The case of a one week travel diary," Working Papers halshs-00612610, HAL.
    11. Abdul Rawoof Pinjari & Chandra R. Bhat, 2011. "Activity-based Travel Demand Analysis," Chapters, in: André de Palma & Robin Lindsey & Emile Quinet & Roger Vickerman (ed.), A Handbook of Transport Economics, chapter 10, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    12. Ron Buliung & Matthew Roorda & Tarmo Remmel, 2008. "Exploring spatial variety in patterns of activity-travel behaviour: initial results from the Toronto Travel-Activity Panel Survey (TTAPS)," Transportation, Springer, vol. 35(6), pages 697-722, November.
    13. Cirillo, C. & Axhausen, K.W., 2006. "Evidence on the distribution of values of travel time savings from a six-week diary," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 444-457, June.
    14. Yusak Susilo & Kay Axhausen, 2014. "Repetitions in individual daily activity–travel–location patterns: a study using the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(5), pages 995-1011, September.
    15. Ed Manley & Chen Zhong & Michael Batty, 2018. "Spatiotemporal variation in travel regularity through transit user profiling," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 703-732, May.
    16. Charles Raux & Tai-Yu Ma & Eric Cornelis, 2016. "Variability in daily activity-travel patterns: the case of a one-week travel diary," Post-Print halshs-01389479, HAL.
    17. Thomas, Tom & La Paix Puello, Lissy & Geurs, Karst, 2019. "Intrapersonal mode choice variation: Evidence from a four-week smartphone-based travel survey in the Netherlands," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 287-300.
    18. Cheng, Yung-Hsiang & Chen, Ssu-Yun, 2015. "Perceived accessibility, mobility, and connectivity of public transportation systems," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 386-403.
    19. Cheng, Yung-Hsiang & Liu, Kuo-Chu, 2012. "Evaluating bicycle-transit users’ perceptions of intermodal inconvenience," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1690-1706.
    20. Saiyad, Gulnazbanu & Srivastava, Minal & Rathwa, Dipak, 2022. "Exploring determinants of feeder mode choice behavior using Artificial Neural Network: Evidences from Delhi metro," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 598(C).

    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:42:y:2015:i:6:p:1081-1101. 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.