An exploratory analysis of factors that encourage students to choose sustainable modes in travelling to schools: evidence from Victoria, Australia

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2024

Subject Area

place - australasia, ridership - behaviour, ridership - young people, ridership - modelling, ridership - mode choice, policy - sustainable, planning - surveys

Keywords

Sustainable mode choice, active transport, public transport, Victorian integrated survey of travel and activity, mixed logit, model validation

Abstract

Travelling using sustainable modes, such as active transport and public transport, improves students’ well-being and mental health, and bolsters sustainability. This study aims to investigate factors that encourage students to use sustainable modes which are public transport and active transport. The random parameters (mixed) logit was employed using the Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity (VISTA) data from Victoria, Australia to comprehensively explore trip attributes, socio-demographics, and built environment factors impacts on school travel mode choice. The inadequacy of model validation in previous research was addressed with the inclusion of the model accuracy test, which arguably is as equally important as behavioural inference. The result showed that travel distance and destination to primary school were the biggest contributors to mode choice probability, negatively affecting sustainable mode choice. The model produced an excellent overall accuracy (85.80%). This research elaborated on the inference of factors affecting mode choice and thus provided recommendations to help develop policies supporting sustainable transportation plans to improve students’ well-being.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Taylor&Francis, copyright remains with them.

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