Multiple purpose tours and efficient trip chaining. An analysis of the effects of land use and transit on travel behaviour in Switzerland

Abstract

Using the 2010 Swiss Microcensus on mobility and transportation, a new approach to characterizing tours is explored. Building on recent work by Ho & Mulley (2013), the authors elaborate upon their typology of tours, developed based not only on tour complexity, but also on the spatial distribution of destinations within tours. The authors' adapted typology is then applied to investigate the relationship between land use, tour type and mode use. The authors' results mirror previous findings that complexity should not be seen as a deterrent to transit use overall, but rather that the distribution of destinations found within a tour must be taken into account if one seeks to better understand complexity and chaining effects on mode use. While much research focuses on land use at the home location, the authors find that land use at destinations is a much better predictor of chaining trips in such a way as to maximize the likelihood of transit and walking both in simple and complex tours. Finally, a more complete definition is provided for “efficient trip chaining” within tours, allowing one to better understand how low-detour or short trips can be integrated in complex tours, allowing for more sustainable travel choices.