Demographic, Social, Economic and Cultural Factors Affecting Suburban Congestion

摘要

The objectives of the study were to: identify and measure the effects of social and economic forces on suburban travel demand; determine whether suburbs differ in their travel needs and the forces affecting them; measure the differences in travel characteristics among suburbs; and gather timely travel data in suburban Chicago. To achieve these objectives, the authors developed a behavioral conceptualization, examined secondary data, and conducted and analyzed a survey of 6,150 residents of two growing and two stable Chicago suburbs. The results suggest that increasing travel and congestion in suburb settings are related to social and economic forces which will continue to operate for the foreseeable future. Such forces cannot be influenced directly, but they should be recognized in the development of realistic policies for ameliorating suburban congestion.