Thesis

How change in residential built form influences travel behaviour in Scotland

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2012
Thesis identifier
  • T13495
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Abstract
  • This research seeks to shed light on the relationship between urban-form and travel behaviour. There is a large body of literature on those factors that affect travel behaviour at the disaggregate level of the individual. These studies have suggested that numerous and varied factors can influence travel behaviour such as car ownership, income, workplace location and family structure. However, many unanswered questions remain as to the causal mechanisms by which urban form and travel behaviour relate. This thesis describes analyses using a current and retrospective recall dataset of households, including a high proportion of households who had recently moved home to explore possible causal paths in more detail. Data were collected from six case study areas in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland. A set of regression equations were developed including those derived from generalized estimating equations to explore how urban form, car ownership and travel behaviour relate. Cross sectional analyses based on the current home showed little in the way of statistically significant associations between urban forms and vehicle miles driven after car ownership and other socio-demographic factors were controlled for. However, change in urban form was significantly associated with reported change in miles driven in the expected directions for people who had recently moved home. Cross sectional and longitudinal analyses of urban form and car ownership showed significant associations, especially so for those who had moved home. Population to jobs ratio, ward population density and distance to urban centre were all significant. This analysis goes some way to supporting the theory that changing urban form characteristics can influence travel behaviours, which underpins various planning policies in Scotland and elsewhere; albeit more strongly through car ownership decisions than directly. Effects may however be temporary with the relationship between urban form and car ownership dissipating over time since relocating home.
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DOI
Date Created
  • 2012
Former identifier
  • 991661

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