The Impacts of Children on the Activity-Travel Patterns of Adults

摘要

This study provided insights on how individual activity-travel patterns of adults were impacted bywhether they lived with children or not. A better understanding of travel behavior of families andhouseholds will improve travel demand forecasting and the assessment of emerging transport policies.This cross-sectional study used the 2006 Puget Sound Regional Council Household Activity and TravelSurvey data to investigate activity-travel patterns of 7,709 adults living in the Puget Sound Region,Washington. Multilevel regression models with the individual as the first level and the household as asecond level were developed. With one-third of the participants living with children, the results showedthat individuals who lived with children made 20% more non work trips than those who did not. Therewas no significant difference between the two groups in terms of size of activity realm. Also, whetherindividuals lived with children or not was found to be an insignificant variable to predict individuals’automobile dependence. The impact of residential density on parents was no different from that of nonparents. Interactions among gender, work status, and whether adults lived with children or not,revealed complex travel patterns according to different population subgroups. Women who worked parttime and lived with children made the second highest number of non work trips after women who wereunemployed and lived with children. Men who worked part time and lived with children had the largestindividual activity realm. Interestingly, men who did not work but lived with children traveled the least.