Analyzing modal choice drivers and transport infrastructure impacts on living environment: insights from a Swedish survey study

Abstract

To reduce transport emissions, adopting low-carbon modes such as electric cars and public transport, as well as active transport, is needed. In addition to effects on carbon emissions, modal choices and transport infrastructure affect, positively or negatively, our experience of our living environment and quality of life. A broad set of factors affecting modal choice and a variety of infrastructure elements are included in this analysis to capture rapid technological and behavioral changes. We present results from a survey of 1020 Swedish residents exploring how respondents perceive transport systems' influence on their quality of life and the drivers behind modal choices. We first use descriptive statistics to analyze the results, and then inferential statistics to determine whether a survey variable (e.g. household and personal income, household size, sex, age, education level and region) has a statistically significant association with outcome variables (e.g. modal choices, transport system impacts on quality of life). Results show that reliability (mean score of 5.53 on a scale from 1 to 7), punctuality (5.49), and physical accessibility (5.42) are the key factors for modal choice. The presence of very small, often statistically non-significant, differences in rating the top modal choice drivers suggest the respondents have similar expectations from transport services and make their modal choices with the goal of satisfying them. In turn, this may unfold as choosing different transport types depending on the sociodemographic and geographic context. There are, however, some regional differences in how different transport infrastructure elements are experienced. The results can guide policies for sustainable transport, assisting planning for more inclusive transport infrastructure. The findings show that transport cost is not necessarily among the key factors governing modal choice, and therefore, policy interventions and introduction of new infrastructure might increase attractiveness of other transport modes beyond the car.