Hu, Hong; Xu, Jiangang; Shen, Qing; Shi, Fei; Chen, Yangjin. (2018). Travel Mode Choices in Small Cities of China: A Case Study of Changting. Transportation Research: Part D, 59, 361 – 374.
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Abstract
The existing literature on urban transportation planning in China focuses primarily on large cities and neglects small cities. This paper aims to fill part of the knowledge gap by examining travel mode choice in Changting, a small city that has been experiencing fast spatial expansion and growing transportation problems. Using survey data collected from 1470 respondents on weekdays and weekends, the study investigates the relationship between mode choice and individuals' socio-economic characteristics, trip characteristics, attitudes, and home and workplace built environments. While more than 35 percent of survey respondents are car owners, walk, bicycle, e-bike, and motorcycle still account for over 85 percent of trips made during peak hours. E-bike and motorcycle are the dominant means of travel on weekdays, but many people shift to walking and cycling on weekends, making non-motorized and semi-motorized travel especially important for non-commuting trips. Results of multinomial logistic regression show that: (1) job-housing balance might exert different effects on mode choice in different types of urban areas; (2) negative attitude towards e-bike and motorcycle is associated with more walking and cycling; and (3) land use diversity of workplace is related to commuting mode choice on weekdays, while land use diversities of both residential and activity places do not significantly affect mode choice on weekends. Our findings imply that planning and design for small cities needs to differentiate land use and transportation strategies in various types of areas, and to launch outreach programs to shift people's mode choice from motorized travel to walking and cycling.
Keywords
Urban Transportation; Transportation Planning; Outreach Programs; Choice Of Transportation; Commuting; China; Attitude; Built Environment; Mode Choice; Small Cities; Neighborhood Type; Self-selection; Urban Form; Land-use; Behavior; Impact; Attitudes; Ownership; Workers
Bautista-Hernández, Dorian. (2020). Urban Structure and its Influence on Trip Chaining Complexity in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Urban, Planning And Transport Research, 8(1), 71 – 97.
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Abstract
This project studies the relationship between the urban structure of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) and two aspects of commuter travel patterns: (1) number of stops in a tour and (2) complexity of trip chaining. Two regression models were explored, one for each dependent variable of interest. The analysis was applied for car drivers, transit users and travelers with mixed transportation separately. Covariates include individual, household, travel and urban form variables, which showed differential effects according to the transportation mode. According to the number of significant covariates, it can be said that there is less impact of urban form on trip generation and complexity of travel for car drivers (only mixed land use at destination being significant for complexity of travel) and mixed transportation (being only significant job access for complexity of travel) than for transit users (being significant job access, population density, mixed land use at origin for extra trip, number of trips and complexity of travel). The directions of these effects vary according to the transportation mode and are discussed in terms of reported literature.
Keywords
Trip Generation; Urban Structures; Chaining; Drivers; Population Density; Land Use; Regression Analysis; Regression Models; Transportation; Travel; Complexity; Automobile Drivers; Metropolitan Areas; Travel Patterns; Urban Areas; Dependent Variables; Mexico
Rhew, Isaac C.; Hurvitz, Philip M.; Lyles-riebli, Rose; Lee, Christine M. (2022). Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment Methods to Examine Spatio-temporal Exposures Associated with Marijuana Use Among Young Adults: A Pilot Study. Spatial And Spatio-temporal Epidemiology, 41.
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Abstract
Background: This study demonstrates the use of geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) methods among young adult marijuana users. Method: Participants were 14 current marijuana users ages 21-27 living in Greater Seattle, Washington. They completed brief surveys four times per day for 14 consecutive days, including measures of marijuana use and desire to use. They also carried a GPS data logger that tracked their spatial movements over time. Results: Participants completed 80.1% of possible EMA surveys. Using the GPS data, we calculated daily number of exposures to (i.e., within 100-m of) marijuana retail outlets (mean = 3.9 times per day; SD = 4.4) and time spent per day in high poverty census tracts (mean = 7.3 h per day in high poverty census tracts; SD = 5.1). Conclusions: GEMA may be a promising approach for studying the role spatio-temporal factors play in marijuana use and related factors.
Keywords
Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment; Spatio-temporal Factors; Marijuana; Young Adults; Geographic Information System; Poverty; Substance Use; Alcohol; Tracking
Moudon, Anne Vernez; Sohn, D. W.; Kavage, Sarah E.; Mabry, Jean E. (2011). Transportation-Efficient Land Use Mapping Index (TELUMI), a Tool to Assess Multimodal Transportation Options in Metropolitan Regions. International Journal Of Sustainable Transportation, 5(2), 111 – 133.
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Abstract
The Transportation-Efficient Land Use Mapping Index (TELUMI) is a tool to visualize and to quantify micro-level metropolitan land use and development patterns as they affect travel demand. It can assist transportation and urban planning authorities in identifying zones where land use supports multimodal travel and in determining a region's transportation system efficiency. An application of the TELUMI in the Seattle region showed that residential units and employment concentrated in transportation-efficient areas covering less than 20 percent of the region. An interactive, multi-scaled tool, the TELUMI can also support scenario building to simulate land use changes that improve transportation system performance.
Keywords
Urban; Geographic Information Systems; Land Use; Mapping Index; Metropolitan; Multimodal Travel; Transportation Efficiency
Aggarwal, Anju; Cook, Andrea J.; Jiao, Junfeng; Seguin, Rebecca A.; Moudon, Anne Vernez; Hurvitz, Philip M.; Drewnowski, Adam. (2014). Access to Supermarkets and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption. American Journal Of Public Health, 104(5), 917 – 923.
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Abstract
Objectives. We examined whether supermarket choice, conceptualized as a proxy for underlying personal factors, would better predict access to supermarkets and fruit and vegetable consumption than mere physical proximity. Methods. The Seattle Obesity Study geocoded respondents' home addresses and locations of their primary supermarkets. Primary supermarkets were stratified into low, medium, and high cost according to the market basket cost of 100 foods. Data on fruit and vegetable consumption were obtained during telephone surveys. Linear regressions examined associations between physical proximity to primary supermarkets, supermarket choice, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Descriptive analyses examined whether supermarket choice outweighed physical proximity among lower-income and vulnerable groups. Results. Only one third of the respondents shopped at their nearest supermarket for their primary food supply. Those who shopped at low-cost supermarkets were more likely to travel beyond their nearest supermarket. Fruit and vegetable consumption was not associated with physical distance but, with supermarket choice, after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions. Mere physical distance may not be the most salient variable to reflect access to supermarkets, particularly among those who shop by car. Studies on food environments need to focus beyond neighborhood geographic boundaries to capture actual food shopping behaviors.
Keywords
Confidence Intervals; Correlation (statistics); Fruit; Geographic Information Systems; Ingestion; Multivariate Analysis; Population Geography; Questionnaires; Regression Analysis; Research Funding; Sales Personnel; Shopping; Travel; Vegetables; Predictive Validity; Cross-sectional Method; Statistical Models; Descriptive Statistics; Null Hypothesis; Washington (state); Local Food Environment; Diet Quality; Socioeconomic Position; Atherosclerosis Risk; Stores; Associations; Obesity; Adults; Availability; Communities
Estiri, Hossein; Krause, Andy; Heris, Mehdi P. (2015). Phasic Metropolitan Settlers: A Phase-Based Model for the Distribution of Households in US Metropolitan Regions. Urban Geography, 36(5), 777 – 794.
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Abstract
In this article, we develop a model for explaining spatial patterns in the distribution of households across metropolitan regions in the United States. First, we use housing consumption and residential mobility theories to construct a hypothetical probability distribution function for the consumption of housing services across three phases of household life span. We then hypothesize a second probability distribution function for the offering of housing services based on the distance from city center(s) at the metropolitan scale. Intersecting the two hypothetical probability functions, we develop a phase-based model for the distribution of households in US metropolitan regions. We argue that phase one households (young adults) are more likely to reside in central city locations, whereas phase two and three households are more likely to select suburban locations, due to their respective housing consumption behaviors. We provide empirical validation of our theoretical model with the data from the 2010 US Census for 35 large metropolitan regions.
Keywords
Residential-mobility; Life-course; Housing Consumption; Family; Satisfaction; Migration; Geography; Context; Age; Distribution Patterns; Us Metropolitan Regions; Household
Shen, Qing; Chen, Peng; Pan, Haixiao. (2016). Factors Affecting Car Ownership and Mode Choice in Rail Transit-Supported Suburbs of a Large Chinese City. Transportation Research Part A: Policy & Practice, 94, 31 – 44.
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Abstract
As Chinese cities continue to grow rapidly and their newly developed suburbs continue to accommodate most of the enormous population increase, rail transit is seen as the key to counter automobile dependence. This paper examines the effects of rail transit-supported urban expansion using travel survey data collected from residents in four Shanghai suburban neighborhoods, including three located near metro stations. Estimated binary logit model of car ownership and nested logit model of commuting mode choice reveal that: (1) proximity to metro stations has a significant positive association with the choice of rail transit as primary commuting mode, but its association with car ownership is insignificant; (2) income, job status, and transportation subsidy are all positively associated with the probabilities of owning car and driving it to work; (3) higher population density in work location relates positively to the likelihood of commuting by the metro, but does not show a significant relationship with car ownership; (4) longer commuting distance is strongly associated with higher probabilities of riding the metro, rather than driving, to work; (5) considerations of money, time, comfort, and safety appear to exert measurable influences on car ownership and mode choice in the expected directions, and the intention to ride the metro for commuting is reflected in its actual use as primary mode for journey to work. These results strongly suggest that rail transit-supported urban expansion can produce important positive outcomes, and that this strategic approach can be effectively facilitated by transportation policies and land use plans, as well as complemented by timely provision of high quality rail transit service to suburban residents. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Railroads; Public Transit; Choice Of Transportation; Automobile Ownership; Transportation; Suburbanization; China; Automobile Dependence; Large Chinese Cities; Rail Transit; Shanghai; Urban Expansion; Built Environment; Travel Behavior; Self-selection; Impact; Areas
Stewart, Orion T.; Moudon, Anne Vernez; Littman, Alyson J.; Seto, Edmund; Saelens, Brian E. (2018). Why Neighborhood Park Proximity Is Not Associated with Total Physical Activity. Health & Place, 52, 163 – 169.
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Abstract
This study explored how parks within the home neighborhood contribute to total physical activity (PA) by isolating park-related PA. Seattle-area adults (n = 634) were observed using time-matched accelerometer, Global Positioning System (GPS), and travel diary instruments. Of the average 42.3 min of daily total PA, only 11% was related to parks. Both home neighborhood park count and area were associated with park-based PA, but not with PA that occurred elsewhere, which comprised 89% of total PA. This study demonstrates clear benefits of neighborhood parks for contributing to park-based PA while helping explain why proximity to parks is rarely associated with overall PA.
Keywords
Physical Activity; Parks; Urban Planning; Environmental Health; Global Positioning System; Built Environment; Green Space; Recreation; Social Determinants Of Health; Health Research; Accelerometer Data; Self-selection; United-states; Public Parks; Older Women; Walking; Adults; Facilities
Buszkiewicz, James; Rose, Chelsea; Gupta, Shilpi; Ko, Linda K.; Mou, Jin; Moudon, Anne, V; Hurvitz, Philip M.; Cook, Andrea; Aggarwal, Anju; Drewnowski, Adam. (2020). A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Physical Activity and Weight Misreporting in Diverse Populations: The Seattle Obesity Study III. Obesity Science & Practice, 6(6), 615 – 627.
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Abstract
Background: In-person assessments of physical activity (PA) and body weight can be burdensome for participants and cost prohibitive for researchers. This study examined self-reported PA and weight accuracy and identified patterns of misreporting in a diverse sample. Methods: King, Pierce and Yakima county residents, aged 21-59 years (n= 728), self-reported their moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and weight, in kilograms. Self-reports were compared with minutes of bout-level MVPA, from 3 days of accelerometer data, and measured weights. Regression models examined characteristics associated with underreporting and overreporting of MVPA and weight, the potential bias introduced using each measure and the relation between perceived and measured PA and weight. Results: MVPA underreporting was higher among males and college educated participants; however, there was no differential MVPA overreporting. Weight underreporting was higher among males, those age 40-49 years and persons with obesity. Weight overreporting was higher among Hispanic participants and those reporting stress, unhappiness and fair or poor health. The estimated PA-obesity relation was similar using measured and self-reported PA but not self-reported weight. Perceived PA and weight predicted measured values. Conclusion: Self-reported PA and weight may be useful should objective measurement be infeasible; however, though population-specific adjustment for differential reporting should be considered.
Keywords
Self-reported Weight; Sedentary Behavior; Validation; Accuracy; Height; Adults; Health Disparity; Obesity; Physical Activity; Self-reported Outcomes
Rowe, Daniel H.; Bae, Christine; Shen, Qing. (2011). Evaluating the Impact of Transit Service on Parking Demand and Requirements. Transportation Research Record, 2245, 56 – 62.
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Abstract
Many jurisdictions in the United States typically set minimum parking requirements for residential multifamily developments based on old data that were collected in suburban settings with little transit availability. Such parking requirements applied to urban settings with adequate transit service often result in an oversupply of parking, which in turn creates a barrier to smart growth. Not only does the oversupply of parking encourage automobile use and reduce housing affordability, but it also increases development costs, consumes land and natural resources, and increases associated air and water pollution. This research examines the relationship of parking demand and transit service in First Hill Capitol Hill (FHCH) and Redmond, two urban centers in King County, Washington. An alternative method to collect parking demand data is explored. The results show a strong relationship between transit service and parking demand. The FHCH urban center, which abuts downtown Seattle, exhibited higher levels of transit service and lower parking demand. Parking demand in FHCH was observed to be 0.52 parking space per dwelling unit, which was about 50% less than parking demand observed in Redmond, a growing mixed-use suburban center, and 50% less than data reported by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. After a review of the parking policies of each urban center, opportunities to improve regulations including adjusting minimum parking requirements and allowing for reductions in required parking when developers implement solutions to reduce demand for parking were identified.