I can do perfectly well without a car!: An exploration of stated preferences for middle-distance travel

• Published in: Transportation (Dordrecht) 2011-05, Vol.38 (3), p.383-407
• Main Authors: van Exel, N. J. A., de Graaf, G., Rietveld, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Economic Geography; Economics; Economics and Finance; Engineering Economics; Exact sciences and technology; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Innovation/Technology Management; Logistics; Marketing; Organization; Regional/Spatial Science; Transportation planning, management and economics
• ISSN: 0049-4488; 1572-9435
• DOI: 10.1007/s11116-010-9315-8

This article presents the results of a study exploring travellers’ preferences for middle-distance travel using Q-methodology. Respondents rank-ordered 42 opinion statements regarding travel choice and motivations for travel in general and for car and public transport as alternative travel modes. By-person factor analysis revealed four distinct preference segments for middle-distance travel: (1) choice travellers with a preference for public transport, (2) deliberate-choice travellers, (3) choice travellers with car as dominant alternative, and (4) car-dependent travellers. These preference segments differ in terms of the levels of involvement and cognitive effort in travel decision making, the travel consideration-set and underlying motivations. The study showed that for most people there is more to travel than getting from point A to point B, and that there is considerable heterogeneity in middle-distance travel preferences. Policy implications for reducing the need for travel and promoting a modal shift from car to other travel modes are discussed.