Quantifying the Relation between Activity Pattern Complexity and Car Use Using a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model

François Sprumont, Ariane Scheffer, Geoffrey Caruso, Eric Cornelis and Francesco Viti ()
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François Sprumont: Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM), University of Luxembourg, 2, Avenue de l’Université, Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4365 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Ariane Scheffer: MobiLab Transport Research Group, Research Unit of Engineering Science, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue de la Fonte, Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4364 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Eric Cornelis: Transportation Research Group (GRT), Université de Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 615, 5000 Namur, Belgium
Francesco Viti: MobiLab Transport Research Group, Research Unit of Engineering Science, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue de la Fonte, Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4364 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: This paper studies the relationship between activity pattern complexity and car use using two multi-day surveys involving the same participants but collected just before and about one year after they relocated their workplace. Measurable characteristics related to two latent variables, namely activity pattern complexity, or trip chaining (e.g., number of activities done within and outside the home–work tour), and to car use (e.g., usage rate, distance travelled by car) were selected. The study shows that the methodology adopted, partial least square structural equation modelling, quantifies the relation between the two variables, and is robust towards changes in important contextual characteristics of the individuals, namely workplace location. The findings indicate that the number of activities chained to commuting travels strongly impact mode choice and, in particular, car use. The paper also shows that chaining non-work-related activities has a stronger impact on car use. The results of this study suggest that planning and management solutions aimed at reducing car use, but focusing only on the commuting trip while neglecting the impact of other daily activities, may be less effective than expected.

Keywords: trip chaining; mode choice; structural equation modelling; multi-day survey; workplace relocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12101-:d:924369

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