The analysis of travel as an example of complex human behavior in spatially-constrained situations: Definition and measurement issues

Abstract

This paper argues for greater attention to the definition, measurement and causal modeling of travel behaviors in cities of “advanced” economies. Greater discrimination and flexibility in definition and measurement is required to distinguish between “trips” and “trip chains” as choices, and “travel patterns” as deeply ingrained habits, for example. In addition, trips, trip chains or travel patterns may be the outcome of environmental constraints on behaviors, or of avoidance or other strategies, and not the usual choices or decisions, for many, at all. Thus, current models and modeling strategies based on classical choice theories may be badly misspecified and produce unacceptable results in the transportation and energy policy arenas. The paper outlines a “revised” choice theory to handle this situation, and feasible empirical research methods to begin judiciously to develop it.