Multimodal travel groups and attitudes: A latent class cluster analysis of Dutch travelers

Molin, Mokhtarian, and Kroesen, 2016, in Transportation Research Part A

doi:10.1016/j.tra.2015.11.001
Location Netherlands
Population Other (specify)
Sample size 2548
Factor analysis type nan, nan rotation
Stepwise regression no
Removal of insignificant variables no
Reviewed by MWC

Abstract

For developing sustainable travel policies, it may be helpful to identify multimodal travelers, that is, travelers who make use of more than one mode of transport within a given period of time. Of special interest is identifying car drivers who also use public transport and/or bicycle, as this group is more likely to respond to policies that stimulate the use of those modes. It is suggested in the literature that this group may have less biased perceptions and different attitudes towards those modes. This supposition is examined in this paper by conducting a latent class cluster analysis, which identifies (multi)modal travel groups based on the self-reported frequency of mode use. Simultaneously, a membership function is estimated to predict the probability of belonging to each of the five identified (multi)modal travel groups, as a function of attitudinal variables in addition to structural variables. The results indicate that the (near) solo car drivers indeed have more negative attitudes towards public transport and bicycle, while frequent car drivers who also use public transport have less negative public transport attitudes. Although the results suggest that in four of the five identified travel groups, attitudes are congruent with travel mode use, this is not the case for the group who uses public transport most often. This group has relatively favorable car attitudes, and given that many young, low-income travelers belong to this group, it may be expected that at least part of this group will start using car more often once they can afford it. Based on the results, challenges for sustainable policies are formulated for each of the identified (multi)modal travel groups. © 2015.

Factors

Variable Pattern loading
Time saving (Convenience) +
Flexible (Convenience) +
Variable Pattern loading
Environmentally-friendly (Environmentalism) +
Variable Pattern loading
Pleasant (Mode-liking) +
Relaxing (Comfort) +
Comfortable (Comfort) +
Variable Pattern loading
Status giving (Social norms) +
Variable Pattern loading
Car fuel is expensive (Cost) -
Travel costs of the car are negligible (Cost) +
If I travel by car I am conscious of the fuel costs that are incurred (Cost) -
Variable Pattern loading
Usually PT is more expensive than car (Cost) -
Traveling by PT should be cheaper (Cost) -
Variable Pattern loading
Planning a trip with PT is complicated (Convenience) -
It is difficult to use the PT-chipcard in PT (Convenience) -
If, because of disruptions in PT, you have to travel an alternate route, it is difficult to find out how to travel (Convenience) -
Variable Pattern loading
It is annoying not knowing beforehand whether you will be able to find a seat in PT (Comfort) -
It is no problem not having a seat in the train from time to time (Comfort) +
Usually it is possible to find a seat in the train (Comfort) +
Variable Pattern loading
Traveling by PT makes you worry about being on time at your destination (Convenience) -
If you travel by train it is less likely that you are late than if you travel by car (Convenience) +
Variable Pattern loading
Traveling by PT is a lot less attractive if it includes a transfer (Convenience) -
Transferring in PT is not annoying (Convenience) +
I am annoyed by waiting for PT (Convenience) -
Variable Pattern loading
If you are protected from the weather, waiting for PT does not matter (Comfort) +
As long as you are well informed about waiting times, it does not matter to wait a little longer due to delays of bus, tram, train or metro (Convenience) +
Services (like shops) at a railway station make waiting more pleasant (Convenience) +

Models

Dependent variable Frequency of modal use
Model type Latent class cluster analysis
Sample size 2548
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC nan
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence nan
Class membership: Class 1 (Car Multimodal)
Variable Coefficient p-value
ASC 0.315 0.322
Male 0.12 0.041
Age 0.01 0.038
Up to middle vocational -0.207 0.02
Higher sec. & vocational -0.215 0.006
University 0.422 0.0
Minimum income -0.651 0.057
Minimum - modal income -0.047 0.738
Above modal income 0.253 0.073
Missing value income 0.444 0.002
Single person in household 0.119 0.269
Couple with children 0.051 0.584
Couple without children -0.253 0.014
Other household composition 0.083 0.589
Paid work 0.278 0.128
Student -0.169 0.485
Else (not paid work or student) -0.11 0.504
Number of working days per week -0.007 0.889
Fixed work location -0.192 0.005
Driving a car is pleasant 0.288 0.0
Driving a car is convenient 0.144 0.09
Driving a car is environmentally-friendly 0.267 0.004
Bicycling is pleasant -0.512 0.0
Bicycling is convenient -0.298 0.0
Traveling by train is pleasant 0.116 0.157
Traveling by train is environmentally-friendly 0.214 0.018
Traveling by bus is pleasant -0.149 0.055
PT waiting acceptability 0.006 0.928
PT timeliness -0.019 0.765
PT planning ease 0.096 0.119
PT is inexpensive -0.006 0.921
Class membership: Class 2 (Bike Multimodal)
Variable Coefficient p-value
ASC 1.01 0.031
Male -0.273 0.002
Age -0.004 0.535
Up to middle vocational -0.429 0.0
Higher sec. & vocational -0.161 0.084
University 0.59 0.0
Minimum income 1.212 0.0
Minimum - modal income -0.213 0.096
Above modal income -0.661 0.0
Missing value income -0.338 0.02
Single person in household 0.272 0.035
Couple with children -0.193 0.102
Couple without children -0.324 0.023
Other household composition 0.245 0.189
Paid work -0.432 0.086
Student 0.442 0.098
Else (not paid work or student) -0.011 0.958
Number of working days per week -0.016 0.86
Fixed work location 0.057 0.548
Driving a car is pleasant -0.603 0.0
Driving a car is convenient -0.228 0.025
Driving a car is environmentally-friendly -0.048 0.669
Bicycling is pleasant 0.805 0.0
Bicycling is convenient 0.586 0.0
Traveling by train is pleasant 0.384 0.0
Traveling by train is environmentally-friendly 0.13 0.242
Traveling by bus is pleasant -0.029 0.745
PT waiting acceptability -0.035 0.67
PT timeliness 0.19 0.012
PT planning ease 0.47 0.0
PT is inexpensive 0.247 0.001
Class membership: Class 3 (Bike + Car)
Variable Coefficient p-value
ASC -1.858 0.0
Male -0.181 0.023
Age 0.028 0.0
Up to middle vocational 0.49 0.0
Higher sec. & vocational 0.017 0.898
University -0.506 0.018
Minimum income 0.36 0.319
Minimum - modal income 0.141 0.353
Above modal income -0.043 0.801
Missing value income -0.459 0.008
Single person in household -0.415 0.014
Couple with children 0.239 0.083
Couple without children 0.592 0.0
Other household composition -0.417 0.128
Paid work 0.312 0.293
Student -0.786 0.087
Else (not paid work or student) 0.474 0.077
Number of working days per week -0.274 0.0
Fixed work location 0.467 0.0
Driving a car is pleasant -0.166 0.078
Driving a car is convenient 0.158 0.156
Driving a car is environmentally-friendly -0.332 0.003
Bicycling is pleasant 0.69 0.0
Bicycling is convenient 0.391 0.0
Traveling by train is pleasant -0.189 0.075
Traveling by train is environmentally-friendly -0.331 0.002
Traveling by bus is pleasant 0.054 0.598
PT waiting acceptability -0.367 0.0
PT timeliness -0.09 0.28
PT planning ease -0.424 0.0
PT is inexpensive -0.213 0.007
Class membership: Class 4 (Car Mostly)
Variable Coefficient p-value
ASC -2.693 0.0
Male 0.018 0.803
Age 0.014 0.024
Up to middle vocational 0.533 0.0
Higher sec. & vocational 0.369 0.002
University -0.902 0.0
Minimum income -1.581 0.011
Minimum - modal income 0.542 0.017
Above modal income 0.726 0.002
Missing value income 0.313 0.185
Single person in household -0.225 0.105
Couple with children -0.023 0.841
Couple without children 0.214 0.07
Other household composition 0.033 0.862
Paid work -0.065 0.817
Student -0.377 0.282
Else (not paid work or student) 0.442 0.058
Number of working days per week 0.34 0.0
Fixed work location -0.269 0.001
Driving a car is pleasant 0.674 0.0
Driving a car is convenient 0.09 0.368
Driving a car is environmentally-friendly 0.032 0.77
Bicycling is pleasant -0.467 0.0
Bicycling is convenient -0.606 0.0
Traveling by train is pleasant -0.363 0.0
Traveling by train is environmentally-friendly -0.18 0.071
Traveling by bus is pleasant -0.128 0.176
PT waiting acceptability -0.176 0.017
PT timeliness -0.173 0.03
PT planning ease -0.292 0.0
PT is inexpensive -0.159 0.028
Class membership: Class 5 (PT Multimodal)
Variable Coefficient p-value
ASC 3.226 0.0
Male 0.316 0.0
Age -0.048 0.0
Up to middle vocational -0.386 0.001
Higher sec. & vocational -0.01 0.914
University 0.396 0.002
Minimum income 0.66 0.011
Minimum - modal income -0.423 0.002
Above modal income -0.276 0.06
Missing value income 0.04 0.776
Single person in household 0.248 0.078
Couple with children -0.074 0.553
Couple without children -0.229 0.081
Other household composition 0.055 0.754
Paid work -0.095 0.691
Student 0.89 0.0
Else (not paid work or student) -0.796 0.0
Number of working days per week -0.043 0.585
Fixed work location -0.062 0.481
Driving a car is pleasant -0.194 0.036
Driving a car is convenient -0.164 0.139
Driving a car is environmentally-friendly 0.081 0.498
Bicycling is pleasant -0.515 0.0
Bicycling is convenient -0.073 0.45
Traveling by train is pleasant 0.052 0.633
Traveling by train is environmentally-friendly 0.167 0.159
Traveling by bus is pleasant 0.252 0.012
PT waiting acceptability 0.572 0.0
PT timeliness 0.092 0.276
PT planning ease 0.15 0.056
PT is inexpensive 0.131 0.096
Utility: Bicycle use frequency
Variable Coefficient p-value
(Practically) every day (ASC) 1.379 0.0
5–6 days per week (ASC) 0.589 0.0
3–4 days per week (ASC) 1.176 0.0
1–2 days per week (ASC) 1.217 0.0
1–3 days per month (ASC) 0.478 0.0
6–11 days per year (ASC) -0.8 0.0
1–5 days per year (ASC) -1.935 0.0
Less than 1 day per year (ASC) -2.105 0.0
Class 1 (Car Multimodal) 0.442 0.0
Class 2 (Bike Multimodal) -0.873 0.0
Class 3 (Bike + Car) -0.332 0.0
Class 4 (Car Mostly) 0.657 0.0
Class 5 (PT Multimodal) 0.107 0.022
Utility: Bus use frequency
Variable Coefficient p-value
(Practically) every day (ASC) -3.964 0.0
5–6 days per week (ASC) -2.171 0.0
3–4 days per week (ASC) -0.322 0.013
1–2 days per week (ASC) 0.82 0.0
1–3 days per month (ASC) 1.779 0.0
6–11 days per year (ASC) 1.692 0.0
1–5 days per year (ASC) 1.573 0.0
Less than 1 day per year (ASC) 0.593 0.0
Class 1 (Car Multimodal) -0.146 0.01
Class 2 (Bike Multimodal) -0.36 0.0
Class 3 (Bike + Car) 0.859 0.0
Class 4 (Car Mostly) 1.197 0.0
Class 5 (PT Multimodal) -1.551 0.0
Utility: Car use frequency
Variable Coefficient p-value
(Practically) every day (ASC) 0.671 0.0
5–6 days per week (ASC) 1.169 0.0
3–4 days per week (ASC) 1.776 0.0
1–2 days per week (ASC) 1.817 0.0
1–3 days per month (ASC) 0.588 0.0
6–11 days per year (ASC) -1.334 0.0
1–5 days per year (ASC) -2.128 0.0
Less than 1 day per year (ASC) -2.559 0.0
Class 1 (Car Multimodal) -0.59 0.0
Class 2 (Bike Multimodal) 0.936 0.0
Class 3 (Bike + Car) 0.191 0.0
Class 4 (Car Mostly) -1.241 0.0
Class 5 (PT Multimodal) 0.706 0.0
Utility: Train use frequency
Variable Coefficient p-value
(Practically) every day (ASC) -4.482 0.0
5–6 days per week (ASC) -2.024 0.0
3–4 days per week (ASC) -0.808 0.0
1–2 days per week (ASC) 0.187 0.023
1–3 days per month (ASC) 2.024 0.0
6–11 days per year (ASC) 2.23 0.0
1–5 days per year (ASC) 2.37 0.0
Less than 1 day per year (ASC) 0.502 0.001
Class 1 (Car Multimodal) -0.557 0.0
Class 2 (Bike Multimodal) -0.828 0.0
Class 3 (Bike + Car) 1.085 0.0
Class 4 (Car Mostly) 1.797 0.0
Class 5 (PT Multimodal) -1.496 0.0

The Attitudes and Travel Database is produced with support from the Center for Teaching Old Models New Tricks at Arizona State University, a University Transportation Center sponsored by the US Department of Transportation through Grant No. 69A3551747116.

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