Changes in mode use after residential relocation: Attitudes and the built environment

Abstract

After changes in the spatial environment induced by residential relocations, mode choice is prone to reconsideration. This study analyzes a panel dataset of 661 movers in Germany who were questioned before and after a move. We aim to determine the relationships between changes in the built environment, in travel attitudes, and in mode choice, accounting for possibly bi-directional relationships. Structural equation models are estimated for four different modes (car, bike, walking, and public transport). We observe that changes in the built environment impact mode choice: After relocating to more urban locations, active mode use increases while car and – unexpectedly – public transport use decrease. Travel attitudes do not directly influence residential location choice, only indirectly via search preferences. There is limited evidence for residential determination as attitudes towards most travel modes remain stable. We only observe changes in walking attitudes in response to changes in the built environment.