University students' transportation patterns, and the role of neighbourhood types and attitudes

Abstract

Research on the millennial generation's travel behaviour is emerging, but little is known about the socio-demographic, attitudinal and environmental factors that influence day-to-day trips by these young adults. In this study, data collected from four universities in Toronto, Canada, was analyzed to explore patterns in transportation behaviour, or transportation life-styles, of post-secondary students. A latent class analysis identified five distinct student groups based on a one-day travel diary data and self-reported long-term travel behaviour, namely: Transit dependent (31%), Active and neighbourhood oriented (23%), Multi-modal (11%), Occasional driver (12%) and Driver (23%). Two-thirds of students (65%) predominantly relied on either walking/cycling or transit. Logistic regression models indicated that a student's socio-demographic characteristics and life-course situations might explain their travel behaviour. Neighbourhood type of residence was an important indicator of a student's transportation life-style. Strong associations between travel attitudes, residential location preferences and a student's transportation life-style was also observed. Post-secondary students are at an important stage in their life-course where they begin to form habitual travel behaviour as young adults. Findings from this study contribute an improved understanding of travel behaviour, which may also inform planning, policy and service provision relating to transportation, land development and affordable housing.