A Structural Equation Model to Analyze Interrelationship between Activity Participation and Trip-Chaining of Nuclear Household

Abstract

Travel is derived from the necessity to engage in spatially-separated activities. Previous researches have demonstrated that socio-demographics have effects on activity-travel behavior, but few of them focus on the interactions between activity and trip-chaining, especially the influence of trip-chaining on activity. Based on the activity-travel survey data of Suzhou, China, in 2009, complex interactions between activity participation and trip-chaining behavior of nuclear household are explored using structural equation model. Model estimation results show that trade-off and complementarity exist among different types of activities and trip chains. Besides, trip-chaining generation is deeply affected by activity participation. Subsistence activity negatively affects trip-chaining characteristics, while maintenance and leisure activities positively affect it. Furthermore, feedbacks from trip-chaining characteristics to activity participation do exist. Travel time and the number of trip-chaining have significant effects on activity duration.