The multimodal majority? Driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation use among American adults

Abstract

Multimodality, the use of more than one mode of transportation during a specified time period, is gaining recognition as an important mechanism for reducing automobile dependence by shifting trips from automobiles to walking, cycling, or public transportation. Most prior research on multimodality focuses on Western European countries. Based on the 2001 and 2009 National Household Travel Surveys, this paper analyzes trends and determinants of multimodal car use in the U.S. during a typical week by distinguishing between (1) monomodal car users who drive or ride in a car for all trips, (2) multimodal car users who drive or ride in a car and also use non-automobile modes, and (3) individuals who exclusively walk, cycle, and/or ride public transportation. We find that during a typical week a majority-almost two thirds-of Americans use a car and make at least one trip by foot, bicycle, or public transportation. One in four Americans uses a car and makes at least seven weekly trips by other modes of transportation. Results from multinomial and logistic regression analyses suggest there may be a continuum of mobility types ranging from monomodal car users to walk, bicycle, and/or public transportation only users-with multimodal car users positioned in-between the two extremes. Policy changes aimed at curtailing car use may result in movements along this spectrum with increasing multimodality for car users.

Key events and multimodality: A life course approach

“…This is evident from Buehler and Hamre (2015) who estimated from 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) that 78% of the American population were monomodal car users from one-day travel diary data but only 28% were monomodal car users from respondents' stated frequency of using transport modes over a week. Comparing this with Germany, Nobis (2007) estimated 43% of the German population were solely car users with similar weekly data for Germany in 2002.…”

“…Two studies used predefined categorisations of multimodality groups (Nobis (2007) with German data, Buehler and Hamre (2015) with data from the United States (US)), two studies used data driven categorisations (Kroesen (2014b) and Molin et al (2016) for Dutch data) and one study used quantitative indicators of multimodality (Heinen and Chatterjee (2015)). We highlight the more notable findings from these studies but note that caution is necessary when comparing results due to the different data used and analyses performed.…”

Does a high level of multimodality mean less car use? An exploration of multimodality trends in England

“…(e.g. Nobis 2007;Buehler and Hamre 2015). Another method of grouping individuals, which is currently less commonly applied, comprises data-driven groups (Kroesen 2015;Molin et al 2016).…”

“…Nobis 2007;Buehler and Hamre 2015;Heinen and Chatterjee 2015). Broadly, it appears that multimodality is more prevalent among women and in areas with greater densities.…”

“…Buehler and Hamre 2015;Heinen and Chatterjee 2015;Susilo and Axhausen 2014;Kroesen 2015;Scheiner et al 2016;Olafsson et al 2016;Block-Schachter 2009). Some of these studies have even suggested that multimodality may be a predictor of behavioural change (Kroesen 2015;Heinen and Ogilvie 2016).…”