The Effects of the Land Use System on Travel Behavior: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

Notwithstanding the extensive research that exists on the strength of the relationship between land use and travel behavior, a consensus has not yet been reached. One possible explanation may be the existence of a wide range of influencing variables. Previous research assumed that the explanatory variables were not influencing each other, thus ignoring the indirect effects on travel behavior. Clearly, handling a wide range of explanatory variables and multiple directions of influence requires more sophisticated research techniques. Structural equation modeling (SEM) seems to be useful here. Although SEM is a research technique dating from the 1970s, applications involving travel behavior from the perspective of land use remain scarce. Furthermore, evidence is mainly based on US data. Therefore, this paper adds some new evidence from a European perspective to the research debate. Our preliminary analysis indicates that socio-economic characteristics influence travel behavior to a greater extent than land use. Furthermore, indirect effects remain important to understand the complexity of travel behavior.