Exploringthe positive utility of travel

and mode choice

Patrick A. Singleton

Portland State University

TREC Friday Transportation Seminar

24 February 2017

Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Positive utility of travel

• Research questions

• Background

• Study design & data

• Results

• Implications

Background – Positive Utility of Travel – Study – Results – Implications 2

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Research questions

A. What is the positive utility of travel (PUT)?

– Literature review, synthesis, critique

B. How do we measure PUT?

– Original survey data collection

C. What factors are associated with PUT?

– Results for mode of transportation

Background – Positive Utility of Travel – Study – Results – Implications 3

Background

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Travel demand

Activity demand

Travel as a disutility–

Generation

Distribution

Mode Choice

Assignment

Demand Model

Extrinsic (instrumental) vs. intrinsic (autotelic)

Hedonic (affective) vs. eudaimonic (symbolic)Motivations

Utility pleasure, happiness, fulfillment, and

subjective well-being

Psychology:

associated withoutcome of preference-

satisfying decision

Economics:

Definition

Background – Positive Utility of Travel – Study – Results – Implications 5

Mokhtarian & Salomon’s (2001) “affinity for travel”

1. The activities conducted at the destination. 2. The activities that can be conducted while traveling. 3. The activity of traveling itself.

The positive utility of travel (PUT) includes…

any benefits accrued to the traveler through the act of traveling.

Mokhtarian, P. L., & Salomon, I. (2001). How derived is the demand for travel? Some conceptual and measurement considerations. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 35(8), 695-719. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0965-8564(00)00013-6

Destination activities

Background – Positive Utility of Travel – Study – Results – Implications 6

Travel as… A means to a productive end: going somewhere.

Definition: Benefits from reaching a destination with activity potential.

Motivations: Extrinsic, instrumental.

“The activities conducted at the destination.” (MS, 2001)

Examples:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottdavies/5671889074/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/krawcowicz/4279213591/

Travel activities

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Travel as… The setting for other activities.

Definition: Benefits from activity participation during travel.

Motivations: Extrinsic, instrumental.

“The activities that can be conducted while traveling.” (MS, 2001)

Examples:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/giuseppemilo/15734343208/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ai-dealer/4616142327/

Travel experiences

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Definition: Affective enjoyment of the travel experience.

Symbolic expression or fulfillment from the travel experience.

Travel as the activity.

Travel as… The setting for experiences.

A means to a fulfilling end.

An end in and of itself.

Examples:

“The activity of traveling itself.” (MS, 2001)

Motivations:Hedonic, affective. Eudaimonic, symbolic.

Intrinsic, autotelic.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aerialcamera/10238940444/https://www.flickr.com/photos/divinedecay/5225460351/

Study

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3

2

1

Data

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≈ 30 minutes

ten $100 gift cards

Home-to-work

trips

Data

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371 114175 30

Commute tripsby mode, &mode shares(N = 690)

49% 16%30% 4%

Survey dates: October 17, 2016 – December 16, 2016

2015 ACS (1-year):

Portland urban area

Portland city

83%

70%

8%

14%

3%

8%

4%

6%

Results

• Can we measure a positive utility of travel?

– Yes, in various ways:

• Travel-based multitasking

• Travel experiences & well-being

• What factors are associated with PUT?

– Commute mode

• Walking and cycling commutes are more positive

• Transit and auto commutes are less positive

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Travel multitasking

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Travel multitasking

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Travel multitasking

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Travel multitasking

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Travel multitasking

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Travel experiences

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Findings

• Positive utility of travel…

– Exists and can be measured!

– Strongest for walking & bicycling, because:

• Valuing exercise, physical and mental health

– Moderate for public transit, because:

• Ability to relax and/or multitask

– Weakest for automobile, because:

• Few activities; some negative affect (congestion?)

Background – Positive Utility of Travel – Study – Results – Implications 27

* Preliminary findings. Additional analyses use multivariate models to statistically control for other explanatory factors.

*

Implications

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Autonomous vehicles(self-driving cars)

Implications

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Value of travel time savings Cost-benefit analysis

Mode Choice

Activity Experience

Improving quality of

service

Questions?

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Patrick A. Singleton patrick.singleton@pdx.edu