The Determinants of Transportation Mode Choice in the Middle Eastern Cities: the Kerman Case, Iran

  • Hamid Soltanzadeh Center for Technology and Society, Technical University of Berlin
  • Houshmand E. Masoumi Center for Technology and Society, Technical University of Berlin
Keywords: Sustainable mobility, urban transportation planning, transportation mode choice, The Middle East, Iran.

Abstract

Having a precise understanding of the determinants of transportation mode choices and decisions can be under the influence of regional and cultural aspects. This paper outlines such determinants in the Iranian city of Kerman as a representative of the similar Middle Eastern cities located in hot-arid climates and Moslem cultures. The descriptive analysis of the results derived from a short survey that was a part of a larger study conducted in the second half of 2013 indicated that adding to accessibility to public transportation and the convenience of using it can persuade people to shift from car driving to public transit use. The main barriers to bicycling are socio-cultural aspects, while for walking the obstacles are physical and objective. Increasing the quality of pedestrian infrastructure and spaces is a stronger deterrent than personal attitudes against walking. Such findings show slight dissimilarities from the results of some of the western studies that find the built environment more effective. These findings can be a general guide for the Middle Eastern planners to promote walking, biking, and public transport use.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Hamid Soltanzadeh, Center for Technology and Society, Technical University of Berlin

Hamid Soltanzadeh holds M. Sc. in urban management from Technical University of Berlin. His research area includes urban transformations and travel behavior. He acquired part of his research in Center for Technology and Society at Technical University of Berlin. Prior to enrollment in his masters, he obtained his Bachelor degree in “Civil Engineering” and worked in several international construction companies in practical field regarding green structural buildings with sustainability approach.

Houshmand E. Masoumi, Center for Technology and Society, Technical University of Berlin
Houshmand E. Masoumi is senior researcher in Center for Technology and Society, Technical University of Berlin, where he did a postdoc research on the interactions of land use on urban trips in Iranian cities. He holds PhD in urban planning and development from Technical University of Dortmund. His research interests include the effects of urban transformations on travel behavior, walkable neighborhoods, traditional urban form, and sustainable transportation.

References

Antonakos, C. (1994), “Environmental and Travel Preferences of Cyclists”, Transportation Research Record 1438, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., pp 25-33.

Axhausen, K. W. and Frei A. and Ohnmacht, T. (2006), “networks biographies and travel first empirical and methodological results", paper presented at the 11th International Conference on Travel Behaviour Research, Kyoto, 16-20 August 2006.

Bhat, C. R. (1997), "Work travel mode choice and number of nonwork commute stops", Transportation Research Part B, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp: 41-54.

Bhat, C. R. and Guo, J. (2007), “A comprehensive analysis of built environment characteristics on household residential choice and auto ownership levels”, Transportation Research Part B, Vol.41, No.5, pp. 506-526.

Bhat, C. R. and Sardesai R. (2006), "The impact of stop-making and travel time reliability on commute mode choice," Transportation Research Part B, Vol. 40, No. 9, pp: 709-730.

Cervero, R. and Radisch, C. (1995) “Travel choices in pedestrian versus automobile-oriented neighborhoods”, Transport Policy, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp.127–141.

Corpuz, G. (2008), “Public transport or private vehicle: factors that impact on mode choice”, 30th Australasian Transport Research Forum, Melbourne, Victoria.

Garvill, J. and Marell, A. and Nordlund, A. (2003), “Effects of increased awareness on choice of travel mode”, Transportation, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp: 63-79.

Goldsmith, S. (1992), Reasons Why Bicycling and Walking Are Not Being Used More Extensively As Travel Modes. Federal Highway Administration, Publication No. FHWA-PD-92-041, National Bicycle and Walking Study: Case Study #1.

Holtzclaw, J. and Clear, R. and Dittmar, H. and Goldstein, D. and Haas, P. (2002), “Location efficiency: neighborhood and socio-economic characteristics determine auto ownership and use?” Transportation Planning and Technology, Vol. 25, pp. 1-27.

Holzer, R. and Cutaia, L. and Braswell, E. (2014), Downtown Commute Survey 2013, Central Houston Inc., report for the city of Houston.

Holz-Rau, C. and Scheiner, J. (2010), "Travel mode choice: affected by objective or subjective determinants?" Transportation, 34(4), pp. 487-511.

Johansson, M. V. and Heldt, T. and Johansson, P. (2006), "The effects of attitudes and personality traits on mode choice", Transportation Research Part A, 40, pp: 507–525.

Kitamura, R. and Mokhtarian, P. L. and Laidet, L.(1994), A micro-analysis of land use and travel in five neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis.

Krizek, K. J. (2000), “Pretest-posttest strategy for researching neighborhood-scale urban form and travel behavior”, Transportation Research Board, 1722, Paper No. 00-1062.

Neel-Schaffer (2011), Mobile County bicentennial bicycle and pedestrian master plan, prepared for South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.

Plaut, P. and Boarnet, M. (2003), “New Urbanism and the Value of Neighborhood Design”, Journal of Architectural and Planning Research,Vol. 20, No. 3, pp:254–265.

Racca, D. P. and Ratledge, E. C. (2004), Factors that affect and/or can alter mode choice, Center for Applied Demography & Survey Research, College of Human Services, Education, and Public Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, Del, USA.

Scheiner, J. (2005), “Daily mobility in Berlin - about Germany's 'Inner Unity' and the explanation of travel demand”, European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp: 159-186.

Scheiner, J. and Holz-Rau, C. (2013), “Changes in travel mode use after residential relocation: a contribution to mobility biographies”, Transportation, Vol. 40, Issue 2, pp. 431-458.

Scheiner, J. and Kasper, B. (2003), “Lifestyles, choice of housing location and daily mobility: the lifestyle approach in the context of spatial mobility and planning”, International Social Science Journal, vol. 55, issue 2, pp: 319-332.

Spencer, P. and Watts, R. and Vivanco, L. and Flynn, B. (2013), “The effect of environmental factors on bicycle commuters in Vermont: influences of a northern climate”, Journal of Transport Geography, Vol. 31.

Steg, L. and Geurs, K. and Ras, M. (2001) “The effects of motivational factors on car use: a multidisciplinary modelling approach”, Transportation Research A, Vol. 35, pp: 789–806.

The Gilmore Research Group (2007), Public Attitude Survey of Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, prepared for Wilbur Smith Associates, Washington.

Transport Data Centre (TDC) (2007), 2005 Household Travel Survey Summary Report, 2007 Release (unpublished as of 31 July 2007).

Vredin, J.M. and Heldt, T. and Johansson, P. (2006) “The effects of attitudes and personality traits on mode choice”, Transportation Research Part A, Vol. 40, pp: 507–525.

Zhao, F. and Li, M. T. and Chow, L. F. and Shen, L. D. (2002), FSUTMS mode choice modeling: factors affecting transit use and access, National Center for Transit Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.

Published
2014-07-14
How to Cite
SoltanzadehH., & E. MasoumiH. (2014). The Determinants of Transportation Mode Choice in the Middle Eastern Cities: the Kerman Case, Iran. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 7(2), 199-222. https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/2518