Why people use their cars while the built environment imposes cycling

Veronique Van Acker (), Ben Derudder () and Frank Witlox ()
Additional contact information
Veronique Van Acker: Ghent University, http://www.geoweb.ugent.be/seg/people/van-acker
Ben Derudder: Ghent University, http://www.geoweb.ugent.be/seg/people/derudder
Frank Witlox: Ghent University, http://www.geoweb.ugent.be/seg/people/witlox

The Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2013, vol. 6, issue 1, 53-62

Abstract: Residing in a high-density, diverse, and accessible neighborhood tends to be associated with less car use, more public transport, and more cycling and walking. However, this does not hold for all people because of differences in personal perceptions and preferences. This paper, therefore, analyzes spatial (mis)match, or the correspondence between perceptions of someone’s residence and the objectively measured spatial characteristics of that residence. Based on a sample for Flanders, Belgium, we found that people tend to overrate the urbanized character of their residence. Among urbanites, (mis)matched spatial perceptions do not influence mode choice. Mode choices remain mainly influenced by urban characteristics and not by personal perceptions as such. However, the influence of spatial (mis)match becomes more important among rural dwellers and, especially, suburbanites. The travel consequences of (mis)matched spatial perceptions thus clearly depend on the residential neighborhood type.

Keywords: perceptions; (mis)match; built environment; mode choice; Belgium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: R40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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