Does distance matter? Exploring the links among values, motivations, home location, and satisfaction in walking trips

This research utilizes a large-scale travel survey that captures two important – but often overlooked – elements: traveler motivations and satisfaction levels. Attitudes towards exercise, social interaction, and the environment are central motivations affecting individual’s choice of mode. Trip satisfaction is a complex element that has important ramifications for understanding travel behavior. Using clustering techniques, walkers are stratified into one of six distinct groups based on underlying values and motivations. Among other findings, people who are most concerned with environmental issues and physical activity are walking much longer distances than average and are much more satisfied with their commute. In addition, a new conceptual model of walking behavior is presented that suggests that underlying values lead to home location decisions while simultaneously having a moderating effect on the perception and satisfaction with travel. This research adds to the burgeoning debate surrounding how various aspects of travel can best be measured, conceptualized and modeled for better public policy.