Move closer and get active: How to make urban university commutes more satisfying

Abstract

By making commuting more enjoyable, workplaces, schools, and communities can become more attractive and competitive. We applied quantitative and qualitative methods to explore changes in commute satisfaction reported in the Fall 2017 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Campus Travel Survey. Among the 2715 respondents who reported satisfaction scores for both their current commute to UWM and their previous commute to a different work or school location, 30% were more satisfied and 47% were less satisfied with their current commute. Binomial logistic regression identified several sociodemographic variables associated with increased satisfaction. In addition, respondents who had a shorter commute to UWM than their previous work or school location were 5.3 times more likely to report increased satisfaction. Respondents who shifted from a motorized mode to walking or bicycling were 2.5 times more likely to be more satisfied. Open-ended responses suggested that satisfaction with active commuting is likely due to benefits such as physical and mental health, social interaction, and being able to express values such as environmental protection and self-reliance. Importantly, active modes avoid the hassle and cost of automobile parking. Urban universities can frame strategies to promote active and sustainable travel modes as a means to support more enjoyable commute options.