The use of E-moped increases commute satisfaction and subjective well-being: Evidence from Shanghai, China

Shichao Sun, Yukun Yao, Lingyu Xu, Xuan He and Zhengyu Duan

Transport Policy, 2022, vol. 117, issue C, 60-73

Abstract: Increasing residents' commute satisfaction and subjective well-being contribute to a healthy, sustainable, and successful society. In this respect, transport mode choice is commonly recognized as one of the key factors associated with commute satisfaction and commuters' subjective well-being. However, few studies have investigated how e-moped, one of the most popular commute transport modes in China, shapes residents' commute satisfaction and subjective well-being, although e-moped ownership in China is extremely great. Thus, we conducted an empirical study on the impact of commuting by e-mopeds, using the survey data from eight residential communities in Shanghai. A path analysis model was established to investigate the relationships between commute characteristics (including commute distance, commute time, commute costs, transport mode choice, transport environment), socio-demographics, commute satisfaction, and subjective well-being. The model results showed that commute satisfaction positively correlated with commuters’ subjective well-being. However, the relationship between transport mode choice and commute satisfaction was demonstrated not straightforward but fully mediated by commute time and commute costs which both showed a negative impact on commute satisfaction. In this case, using active modes was revealed to lead to a happier work commute than using private cars, whereas bus riders were at the bottom of the list as expected. Surprisingly, the use of e-mopeds resulted in the second highest total effects on the increase of commute satisfaction and subjective well-being, due to less commute time and lower commute costs. Moreover, the substitution effects of e-mopeds were examined. The results indicated that bus commuters held the most possibility to shift to e-mopeds; while, it was found hard to let e-moped users alter to the other transport modes of commuters. In this context, it was reasonable to further promote the development of e-mopeds in Shanghai, and targeted practical implications were given in this study.

Keywords: Subjective well-being; Commute satisfaction; Commute transport modes; E-moped; Path analysis model; Substitution effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.01.010

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