Analysing the effects of perceived travel options and attitudes on multimodality

Lixun Liu, Mengqiu Cao, Jonas De Vos and Robin Hickman

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2026, vol. 203, issue C

Abstract: People have different types of multimodal travel patterns. However, most studies exploring people’s multimodal travel patterns generally do not distinguish between trip purposes. In addition, limited studies have explored how people’s travel options (i.e. travel constraints and opportunities) influence their multimodal travel choices. Only a few have investigated how attitudes and perceived travel options shape multimodality travel patterns. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impacts of people’s perceived travel options and attitudes on multimodality across mandatory and discretionary trips using Changsha as a case study. Factor analysis and binary logistic regression are employed to explore the association with different multimodal groups. The results show that high-level multimodality groups tend to have limited options, using multimodal trips to overcome travel constraints and meet their travel demands. Higher income levels are not an indicator of higher multimodality; instead, people are affected more by other personal characteristics and contextual factors. Positive attitudes towards multimodality can promote multimodal travel even in the absence of sufficient transport supply and convenient accessibility. Therefore, improving access to public transport, transfer connections and ticketing policies can offer ways of helping those with various travel captivities. Our study provides recommendations for policymakers to develop transport policies that target specific population groups and enhance their multimodal mobility.

Keywords: Multimodality; Travel behaviour; Travel purposes; Perceived travel options; Attitudes; Travel captivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104757

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