Published: 2007 | Category: Transport demand management , Research programme , Research & reports | Audience: General
Conducted in 2005, this study evaluates a case-control design of contrasts between walkers and drivers to address factors influencing the uptake of walking as a mode choice.
With samples drawn from Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, this research uses a 62-item survey to examine a number of factors: fear of crime; trip-chaining/car dependency; weather; distance/time; social pressure, fatigue and fitness, parking charges, enjoyment of walking, inconvenience, and geography.
To avoid factors such as car dependency or the inability to walk, participants are selected because they live a short distance from public transport parking facilities.
The group of drivers demonstrate an irregular break in car dependency by driving their cars to the station in order to use public transport.
The results indicate that for parking facilities, convenience creates demand.
Poor weather has an influence on the decision to drive, and fine weather improves the likelihood of walking.
Previous studies claim decisions to walk are impeded by certain factors.
While location effects are observed between the groups, these results suggest that such factors are in fact inconsequential.
Keywords: Car dependency, pedestrian, travel behaviour, walking
