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By Community or Design? Age-restricted Neighbourhoods, Physical Design and Baby Boomers’ Local Travel Behaviour in Suburban Boston, US

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  • Christopher Zegras
  • Jae Seung Lee
  • Eran Ben-Joseph

Abstract

This article analyses the travel behaviour, residential choices and related preferences of 55+ baby boomers in suburban Boston, USA, looking specifically at age-restricted neighbourhoods. For this highly auto-dependent group, do neighbourhood-related characteristics influence local-level recreational walk/bike and social activity trip-making? The analysis aims to discern community (for example, social network) versus physical (for example, street network) influences. Structural equation models, incorporating attitudes and residential choice, are used to control for self-selection and to account for direct and indirect effects among exogenous and endogenous variables. The analysis reveals modest neighbourhood effects. Living in age-restricted, as opposed to unrestricted, suburban neighbourhoods modestly increases the likelihood of residents being active (i.e. making at least one local recreational walk/bike trip) and the number of local social trips. Overall, the age-restricted community status has greater influence on recreational and social activity trip-making than the neighbourhood physical characteristics, although some community–neighbourhood interaction exists.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Zegras & Jae Seung Lee & Eran Ben-Joseph, 2012. "By Community or Design? Age-restricted Neighbourhoods, Physical Design and Baby Boomers’ Local Travel Behaviour in Suburban Boston, US," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(10), pages 2169-2198, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:49:y:2012:i:10:p:2169-2198
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098011429485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lee, Jae Seung & Christopher Zegras, P. & Ben-Joseph, Eran & Park, Sungjin, 2014. "Does urban living influence baby boomers’ travel behavior?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 21-29.

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