A tale of two social groups in Xiamen, China: Trip frequency of migrants and locals and its determinants

Abstract

Across developing countries, there are hundreds of millions of migrants residing in cities, and meeting their travel demand has become increasingly important yet challenging. While a growing number of scholars have studied this demand and its determinants in the West, limited research has been conducted in China. Taking Xiamen, China, as an example, this study compares the migrants’ and locals’ travel behaviors (frequency of trips by walking, cycling, public transport, and motor vehicle) and comparatively explores their sociodemographic and built environment determinants. The findings show that (1) migrants depend more on non-driving-alone modes, such as public transport and walking, compared with locals; (2) both sociodemographic and built environment variables (e.g., population density, land use mix, and distance to commercial centers) can significantly predict the travel behaviors of locals; and (3) sociodemographic variables significantly predict migrants’ different mode trip frequency, whereas built environment indicators have significant but minor impacts on their behaviors. This study highlights the importance of context and population differentiation and calls for more in-depth research on migrants’ travel behaviors as well as their determinants. The results and findings can help decision makers undertake more informed countermeasures to accommodate the travel demands of all residents in cities, regardless of whether they are migrants or locals.