IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/transp/v48y2021i2d10.1007_s11116-019-10077-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining the effect of life course events on modality type and the moderating influence of life stage

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Janke

    (TU Wien)

  • Calvin G. Thigpen

    (Arizona State University)

  • Susan Handy

    (University of California, Davis)

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated the relevance of life events to explain changes in travel behavior. Less clear is the moderating role played by life stages on the relationship between life events and travel behavior. Our goal in this study is to explore how the influence of life events on travel behavior differs by life stage. We use data from a travel survey of faculty, staff and students at a US university. We define four life stages: millennials living in shared apartments or alone, millennials living with partners, parents (of any generation) living with their children, and non-millennial adults living without children. Four modality types were defined: active travelers, car users, transit users, and multimodal travelers. We use a Manifest Markov Model to estimate probabilities of switching modality types between two waves of the survey. Life stage does not significantly moderate effects of life events on change in travel behavior but does affect modality type: the prevalence of active travel modality types, particularly the share of women who are active travelers, decreases throughout the life stages. Millennials living with their partners and parents living with their children relocate to another town more often than those in other life stages, a life event associated with a higher probability of switching to car use only. Our results identify “windows of opportunity”, such as residential relocation, that planners can use to promote sustainable travel behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Janke & Calvin G. Thigpen & Susan Handy, 2021. "Examining the effect of life course events on modality type and the moderating influence of life stage," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 1089-1124, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:48:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11116-019-10077-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-019-10077-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11116-019-10077-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11116-019-10077-9?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. Müggenburg, Hannah & Busch-Geertsema, Annika & Lanzendorf, Martin, 2015. "Mobility biographies: A review of achievements and challenges of the mobility biographies approach and a framework for further research," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 151-163.
    2. Abu Oakil & Dick Ettema & Theo Arentze & Harry Timmermans, 2014. "Changing household car ownership level and life cycle events: an action in anticipation or an action on occurrence," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 889-904, July.
    3. 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.
    4. Sharmeen, Fariya & Arentze, Theo & Timmermans, Harry, 2014. "An analysis of the dynamics of activity and travel needs in response to social network evolution and life-cycle events: A structural equation model," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 159-171.
    5. Chatterjee, Kiron & Sherwin, Henrietta & Jain, Juliet, 2013. "Triggers for changes in cycling: the role of life events and modifications to the external environment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 183-193.
    6. Thigpen, Calvin, 2019. "Do bicycling experiences and exposure influence bicycling skills and attitudes? Evidence from a bicycle-friendly university," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 68-79.
    7. Alexa Delbosc & Graham Currie, 2013. "Causes of Youth Licensing Decline: A Synthesis of Evidence," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(3), pages 271-290, May.
    8. Thigpen, Calvin & Handy, Susan, 2018. "Driver's licensing delay: A retrospective case study of the impact of attitudes, parental and social influences, and intergenerational differences," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 24-40.
    9. Busch-Geertsema, Annika & Lanzendorf, Martin, 2017. "From university to work life – Jumping behind the wheel? Explaining mode change of students making the transition to professional life," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 181-196.
    10. Birgitta Rabe & Mark Taylor, 2010. "Residential mobility, quality of neighbourhood and life course events," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 173(3), pages 531-555, July.
    11. 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.
    12. Scheiner, Joachim, 2014. "Gendered key events in the life course: effects on changes in travel mode choice over time," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 47-60.
    13. Scheiner, Joachim & Holz-Rau, Christian, 2013. "A comprehensive study of life course, cohort, and period effects on changes in travel mode use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 167-181.
    14. Vij, Akshay, 2013. "Incorporating the Influence of Latent Modal Preferences in Travel Demand Models," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt7nq9p0cv, University of California Transportation Center.
    15. Kuhnimhof, Tobias & Buehler, Ralph & Wirtz, Matthias & Kalinowska, Dominika, 2012. "Travel trends among young adults in Germany: increasing multimodality and declining car use for men," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 443-450.
    16. Dargay, Joyce M, 2001. "The effect of income on car ownership: evidence of asymmetry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 807-821, November.
    17. Clark, Ben & Chatterjee, Kiron & Melia, Steve, 2016. "Changes to commute mode: The role of life events, spatial context and environmental attitude," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 89-105.
    18. Vij, Akshay, 2013. "Incorporating the Influence of Latent Modal Preferences in Travel Demand Models," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt7ng2z24q, University of California Transportation Center.
    19. Licaj, Idlir & Haddak, Mouloud & Pochet, Pascal & Chiron, Mireille, 2012. "Individual and contextual socioeconomic disadvantages and car driving between 16 and 24years of age: a multilevel study in the Rhône Département (France)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 19-27.
    20. Thigpen, Calvin, 2019. "Do bicycling experiences and exposure influence bicycling skills and attitudes? Evidence from a bicycle-friendly university," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt5bx856z7, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    21. Idlir Licaj & Mohamed Mouloud Haddak & Pascal Pochet & Mireille Chiron, 2012. "Individual and contextual socioeconomic disadvantages and car driving between 16 and 24 years of age: a multilevel study in the Rhône Département (France)," Post-Print halshs-00657323, HAL.
    22. Kroesen, Maarten, 2014. "Modeling the behavioral determinants of travel behavior: An application of latent transition analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 56-67.
    23. Vij, Akshay & Carrel, André & Walker, Joan L., 2013. "Incorporating the influence of latent modal preferences on travel mode choice behavior," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 164-178.
    24. de Haas, M.C. & Scheepers, C.E. & Harms, L.W.J. & Kroesen, M., 2018. "Travel pattern transitions: Applying latent transition analysis within the mobility biographies framework," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 140-151.
    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. Chaoying Yin & Xiaoquan Wang & Chunfu Shao & Jianxiao Ma, 2022. "Exploring the Relationship between Built Environment and Commuting Mode Choice: Longitudinal Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Branka Trček & Beno Mesarec, 2022. "Pathways to Alternative Transport Mode Choices among University Students and Staff—Commuting to the University of Maribor since 2010," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Johansson Rehn, Henrik & Olsson, Lars E. & Friman, Margareta, 2024. "A framework of routine transitions in daily travel," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(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. 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. Richard Larouche & Ulises Charles Rodriguez & Ransimala Nayakarathna & David R. Scott, 2020. "Effect of Major Life Events on Travel Behaviours: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Johansson Rehn, Henrik & Olsson, Lars E. & Friman, Margareta, 2024. "A framework of routine transitions in daily travel," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Guo, Jia & Feng, Tao & Zhang, Junyi & Timmermans, Harry J.P., 2020. "Temporal interdependencies in mobility decisions over the life course: A household-level analysis using dynamic Bayesian networks," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Scheiner, Joachim, 2020. "Changes in travel mode use over the life course with partner interactions in couple households," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 791-807.
    8. Gao, Jie & He, Sylvia Y. & Ettema, Dick & Helbich, Marco, 2023. "Travel behavior changes due to life events: Longitudinal evidence from Dutch couple households," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    9. La Paix Puello, Lissy & Chowdhury, Saidul & Geurs, Karst, 2019. "Using panel data for modelling duration dynamics of outdoor leisure activities," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 141-155.
    10. Morgan, Njogu, 2020. "The stickiness of cycling: Residential relocation and changes in utility cycling in Johannesburg," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    11. 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).
    12. 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.
    13. Müggenburg, Hannah, 2021. "Beyond the limits of memory? The reliability of retrospective data in travel research," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 302-318.
    14. 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).
    15. 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.
    16. Shaila Jamal & K. Bruce Newbold, 2020. "Factors Associated with Travel Behavior of Millennials and Older Adults: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-27, October.
    17. 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.
    18. Laura McCarthy & Alexa Delbosc & Maarten Kroesen & Mathijs Haas, 2023. "Travel attitudes or behaviours: Which one changes when they conflict?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 25-42, February.
    19. Pérez-Neira, David & Rodríguez-Fernández, Ma Pilar & Hidalgo-González, Cristina, 2020. "The greenhouse gas mitigation potential of university commuting: A case study of the University of León (Spain)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    20. Yongsung Lee & Giovanni Circella & Patricia L. Mokhtarian & Subhrajit Guhathakurta, 2020. "Are millennials more multimodal? A latent-class cluster analysis with attitudes and preferences among millennial and Generation X commuters in California," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 2505-2528, October.

    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:48:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11116-019-10077-9. 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.