Multimodality: Facets and Causes of Sustainable Mobility Behavior

• Published in: Transportation research record 2007, Vol.2010 (1), p.35-44
• Main Author: Nobis, Claudia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0361-1981; 2169-4052
• DOI: 10.3141/2010-05

The car can be integrated into the complex structures of contemporary lifestyles like no other mode of transportation. The consequence is the emergence of highly car-dependent mobility behavior. Nevertheless, the use of multiple modes of transportation, a behavior that is desirable from the perspective of transportation policy, is a matter of course and daily routine for a not insignificant segment of the population. This group, referred to as multimodals, is the subject of this study. “Multimodality” is defined as the use of at least two modes of transportation—bicycle, car, or public transportation—in 1 week. Monomodal car users serve as the contrast group for the study. The study is based on the data sets from the national survey Mobility in Germany, 2002, as well as the 1999–2004 data of the German Mobility Panel. The results indicate a close relationship between multimodality and life stage. Most adolescents are multimodal, mainly out of necessity, and the percentage of multimodal people declines drastically on entry into professional life. However, an above-average number of multimodals can also be found among their older counterparts, even when car availability is high. Furthermore, the data show that multimodal mobility behavior is most often encountered in population centers, as urban lifestyles offer good conditions for promoting this behavior.