Abstract
This work studies the relationships between the number of complex tours (with one or more intermediate stops) and simple home-based tours, total distances traveled by mode, and land-use patterns both at the residence and at the workplace using path analysis. The model includes commuting distance, car ownership and motorcycle ownership, which are intermediate variables in the relationship between land use, tour complexity and distances traveled by mode. The dataset used here was collected in a region comprising four municipalities located in the north of Portugal that are made up of urban areas, their sprawling suburbs, and surrounding rural hinterland. The results confirm the association between complex tours and higher levels of car use. Land-use patterns significantly affect travelled distances by mode either directly and indirectly via the influence of longer-term decisions like vehicle ownership and commuting distance. The results obtained highlight the role of socioeconomic variables in influencing tour complexity; in particular, households with children, household income, and workers with a college degree tend to do more complex tours. Land-use patterns mediate the effects of tour complexity on the kilometers travelled by different modes. Increasing densities in central areas, and particularly the concentration of jobs, have relevant benefits by reducing car kilometers driven.
Highlights
During the 1970s and early 1980s, several researchers recognized the limitations and pitfalls of the trip-based approach as materialized by the 4-step model (e.g., [1,2,3,4,5])
A path-analysis model was built to study the relationships between the frequency of simple and complex tours and distances travelled by mode while incorporating within the same framework, vehicle ownership, commuting distance and land-use patterns
The results confirm the association between complex tours and higher levels of car use
Summary
During the 1970s and early 1980s, several researchers recognized the limitations and pitfalls of the trip-based approach as materialized by the 4-step model (e.g., [1,2,3,4,5]). One relevant criticism was that the focus on individual trips ignored the interrelationships between different trips and between trips and activities [6]. From this stemmed the notion that the object of analysis should consist of sequences of patterns of behavior and not individual trips [6]. Chaining trips, resulting in a smaller number of more complex tours during a day, have been considered as an individual strategy to reduce the total amount of travel, total distances traveled
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
