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Factors influencing travel mode choice among families with young children (aged 0–4): a review of the literature

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  • Laura McCarthy
  • Alexa Delbosc
  • Graham Currie
  • Andrew Molloy

Abstract

Life events, such as the birth of a child, disrupt habitual travel behaviour and provide a valuable opportunity to influence the adoption of sustainable transport practices. However, in order for sustainable travel practices to be adopted, an understanding is required of the factors that influence travel mode choice among families with young children. Research in this field is particularly timely given many in the millennial generation, a comparably large cohort, are approaching this life stage. This comprehensive literature review develops a framework of factors influencing travel mode choice among families with young children. The findings reveal a multitude of factors influence decisions about mode choice, and, in particular, encourage travel by car, when travelling with young children. The paper concludes with an agenda for future research about travel among families with young children, a largely overlooked group of transport users.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura McCarthy & Alexa Delbosc & Graham Currie & Andrew Molloy, 2017. "Factors influencing travel mode choice among families with young children (aged 0–4): a review of the literature," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6), pages 767-781, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:transr:v:37:y:2017:i:6:p:767-781
    DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2017.1354942
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    Cited by:

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    13. Song, Weize & Zhang, Xiaoling & An, Kangxin & Yang, Tao & Li, Heng & Wang, Can, 2021. "Quantifying the spillover elasticities of urban built environment configurations on the adjacent traffic CO2 emissions in mainland China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
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    15. Blumenberg, Evelyn & Wander, Madeline & Yao, Zhiyuan, 2024. "Decisions & distance: The relationship between child care access and child care travel," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
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    20. Jixiang Liu & Longzhu Xiao, 2024. "Socioeconomic differences in effect size: predicting commuting mode choice of migrants and locals using a light gradient boosting approach," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 1-24, February.

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