What Affects Millennials’ Mobility? PART II: The Impact of Residential Location, Individual Preferences and Lifestyles on Young Adults’ Travel Behavior in California

Circella, Alemi, Tiedeman, Berliner, Lee, Fulton, Mokhtarian, Handy, 2017, in National Center for Sustainable Transportation Research Report

doi:nan
Location California, USA
Population Other (specify)
Sample size 2400
Factor analysis type exploratory factor analysis, Oblique rotation
Stepwise regression no
Removal of insignificant variables yes
Reviewed by LCM

Abstract

Young adults (“millennials”, or members of “Generation Y”) are increasingly reported to have different lifestyles and travel behavior from previous generations at the same stage in life. They postpone the time at which they obtain a driver’s license, often choose not to own a car, drive less if they own one, and use alternative non-motorized means of transportation more often. Several explanations have been proposed to explain the behaviors of millennials, including their preference for urban locations closer to the vibrant parts of a city, changes in household composition, and the substitution of travel for work and socializing with telecommuting and social media. However, research in this area has been limited by a lack of comprehensive data on the factors affecting millennials’ residential location and travel choices (e.g. information about individual attitudes, lifestyles and adoption of shared mobility is not available in the U.S. National Household Travel Survey and most regional household travel surveys).View the NCST Project Webpage

Factors

Variable Pattern loading
The functionality of a car is more important to me than its brand (Other) 0.579
To me, a car is just a way to get from place to place (Mode-liking) 0.48
Variable Pattern loading
Greenhouse gases from human activities are creating major problems (Environmentalism) 0.796
Any climate change that may be occurring is part of a natural cycle (Environmentalism) -0.656
It is pointless for me to try too hard to be more environmentally friendly because I am just one person (Environmentalism) -0.307
Variable Pattern loading
I'm already established in my field of work (Lifestyle) 0.704
I'm still trying to figure out my career (e.g. what I want to do, where I'll end up) (Lifestyle) -0.636
I am generally satisfied with my life (Lifestyle) 0.387
Variable Pattern loading
I picture myself living long-term in a suburban setting (Res preference/perception) 0.819
A house in the suburbs is the best place for kids to grow up (Res preference/perception) 0.568
I picture myself living long-term in an urban setting (Res preference/perception) -0.31
Variable Pattern loading
I would/do enjoy having a lot of luxury things (Lifestyle) 0.441
I prefer to minimize the material goods I possess (Lifestyle) -0.412
For me, a lot of the fun of having something nice is showing it off (Lifestyle) 0.387
I like to be among the first people to have the latest technology (Lifestyle) 0.38
To me, owning a car is a symbol of success (Social norms) 0.316
Variable Pattern loading
It's best to finish one project before starting another (Lifestyle) 0.518
I like to juggle two or more activities at the same time (Lifestyle) -0.346
Variable Pattern loading
I definitely want to own a car (Other) 0.697
I am fine with not owning a car, as long as I can use or rent one any time I need it (Convenience) -0.5
Variable Pattern loading
My commute is stressful (Comfort) -0.802
My commute is generally pleasant (Mode-liking) 0.689
Traffic congestion is a major problem for me personally (Convenience) -0.544
The time I spend commuting is generally wasted time (Convenience) -0.501
Getting stuck in traffic does not bother me that much (Convenience) 0.305
Variable Pattern loading
We should raise the price of gasoline to reduce the negative impacts on the environment (Environmentalism) 0.937
We should raise the price of gasoline to provide funding for better public transportation (Transport policy) 0.841
The government should put restrictions on car travel in order to reduce congestion (Transport policy) 0.331
Variable Pattern loading
The importance of exercise is overrated (Other) -0.822
Getting regular exercise is very important to me (Lifestyle) 0.587
Variable Pattern loading
Social media (e.g. Facebook) makes my life more interesting (Lifestyle) 0.505
People are generally trustworthy (Other) 0.442
I enjoy the social aspects of shopping in stores (Social norms) 0.323
Variable Pattern loading
I prefer to shop in a store rather than online (Lifestyle) 0.998
I enjoy shopping online (Lifestyle) -0.413
Variable Pattern loading
I prefer to live in a spacious home, even if it is farther from public transportation and many places I go to (Res preference/perception) 0.764
I prefer to live close to transit even if it means I will have a smaller home and live in a more crowded area (Res preference/perception) -0.69
I like the idea of living somewhere with large yards and lots of space between homes (Res preference/perception) 0.428
I like the idea of having different types of businesses (such as stores, offices, restaurants, banks, and library) mixed in with homes in my neighborhood (Res preference/perception) -0.357
Variable Pattern loading
The environmental impacts of the various means of transportation affect the choices I make (Environmentalism) 0.739
I am committed to using a less polluting means of transportation as much as possible (Environmentalism) 0.598
The price of fuel affects the choices I make about my daily travel (Cost) 0.532
To improve air quality, I am willing to pay a little more to use a hybrid or other clean-fuel vehicle (Environmentalism) 0.384
Variable Pattern loading
Having Wi-Fi and/or 3G/4G connectivity everywhere I go is essential to me (Lifestyle) 0.609
Getting around is easier than ever with my smartphone (Convenience) 0.492
Learning how to use new technologies is often frustrating (Lifestyle) -0.359
Technology creates as least as many problems as it does solutions (Other) -0.31
Variable Pattern loading
My schedule makes it hard or impossible for me to use public transportation (Convenience) 0.58
I am too busy to do many things I'd like to do (Convenience) 0.443
Most of the time, I have no reasonable alternative to driving (Convenience) 0.388
Variable Pattern loading
I like trying things that are new and different (Lifestyle) 0.592
I have a strong interest in traveling to other countries (Lifestyle) 0.405

Models

Dependent variable Weekly VMT
Model type Log-linear
Sample size 1801.0
R2 0.48
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
Variable Coefficient p-value
Intercept 0.487 0.302
Occupation: student only 0.437 0.004
Occupation: student and worker 0.73 <0.001
Occupation: works only 0.687 <0.001
Sex (male) 0.271 <0.001
Age 0.038 0.163
Age squared -0.001 0.138
Household income > $100k 0.291 <0.001
Household income $35k-$100k 0.155 0.031
Lives with parents -0.235 0.003
Lives with children 0.206 0.001
Car availability (%) 0.027 <0.001
Telecommuting frequency -0.506 0.001
Population density -0.007 <0.001
Diversity -0.557 <0.001
Pro-suburban 0.054 0.064
Responsive to environmental effect and price of travel -0.055 0.047
Established in life 0.107 0.001
Must own car 0.106 <0.001
Time/mode constrained 0.165 <0.001
Dependent variable Weekly VMT
Model type Log-linear
Sample size 976.0
R2 0.448
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
Variable Coefficient p-value
Intercept -5.253 <0.001
Occupation: student only 0.818 <0.001
Occupation: student and worker 0.839 <0.001
Occupation: works only 0.742 <0.001
Sex (male) 0.205 0.014
Age 0.453 <0.001
Age squared -0.008 <0.001
Household income > $100k 0.462 <0.001
Household income $35k-$100k 0.194 0.042
Lives with parents -0.176 0.083
Lives with children 0.314 0.001
Car availability (%) 0.026 <0.001
Diversity -0.325 0.072
Established in life 0.091 0.057
Must own car 0.119 0.003
Time/mode constrained 0.153 <0.001
Uber/Lyft frequency -1.407 0.05
Dependent variable Weekly VMT
Model type Log-linear
Sample size 825.0
R2 0.517
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
Variable Coefficient p-value
Intercept 1.162 <0.001
Occupation: student only -0.441 0.155
Occupation: student and worker 0.608 0.001
Occupation: works only 0.711 <0.001
Sex (male) 0.305 <0.001
Household income > $100k 0.342 0.004
Household income $35k-$100k 0.21 0.062
Lives with parents -0.383 0.004
Car availability (%) 0.029 <0.001
Telecommuting frequency -0.693 <0.001
Population density -0.013 <0.001
Diversity -0.9 <0.001
Pro-suburban 0.066 0.085
Established in life 0.066 0.122
Must own car 0.073 0.082
Dependent variable Vehicle type
Model type Multinomial logit model
Sample size 529.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC nan
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero -947.84
Log-likelihood at constants -801.05
Log-likelihood at convergence -708.53
Large cars
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age 0.252 0
Age squared -0.003 0.001
Constant -6.181 0
Luxury
Variable Coefficient p-value
Number of children under 18 years old in the household -0.521 0.014
Established in life 0.5 0.025
Household income 0.22 0.014
Interaction HH income with urban neighborhood type 0.121 0.026
Constant -2.561 0
Luxury SUV
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age 1.176 0
Age squared -0.014 0
Female 0.603 0
Time/mode constrained (reversed) -0.584 0.047
Household income 0.479 0.001
Interaction HH income with urban neighborhood type -0.16 0.078
Constant -29.696 0
SUV
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age 0.222 0
Age squared -0.002 0
Number of children under 18 years old in the household 0.488 0
Constant -5.646 0
Small/compact
Variable Coefficient p-value
Age 0.059 0.013
Age squared -0.001 0.045
Number of children under 18 years old in the household -0.266 0.048
Car as a tool 0.355 0.005
Time/mode constrained (reversed) -0.35 0.007
Established in life -0.242 0.067
Household income 0.109 0.084
Constant -0.911 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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