01370272

Component

The paper presents an econometric investigation on walking trip generation for work and school activities. It uses a joint econometric modelling approach and highlights the importance of considering walking distance jointly with walking propensity in the walking trip generation model. Unlike any motorized modes, walking requires energy from the traveller him/herself and hence the total amount of walking distance has limiting effects on the walking trip making behaviour. The paper develops the joint econometric model for the decision to make non-zero walking trips, walking propensity and walking distance. Empirical models are estimated using large scale household travel survey data collected in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) in 1996, 2001 and 2006. Same models are estimated for three years and the results are compared. Empirical models clearly validate the proposal that for walking, travel distance should be considered jointly with propensity. It is also found that aggregate land use and population characteristics influence the decision to make non-zero walking trips more than they influence the walking propensity and distance. The relationship between auto ownership and walking trip generation is proved to be very strong; however, zonal average auto ownership has higher impact than the traveller’s own household auto ownership. By comparing the empirical models, it is clear that although there has been a slight improvement on baseline tendency to consider walking for work or school trips, the baseline walking propensity and distance remain unchanged over the years in the GTHA. Hence, in addition to land use policies, more rigorous applications of public education and social marketing would be required to encourage greater use of walking for work or school activities.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB10 Traveler Behavior and Values

01362476

12-0967

English

0000-0003-4219-7721

22p

2012

Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Automobile ownership; Econometric models; Land use; Public information programs; School trips; Social media; Trip generation; Walking; Walking distance; Work trips

Hamilton (Canada); Toronto Metropolitan Area

Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2012 Paper #12-0967

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2012 4:58PM