Commuting Satisfaction in Lower Income Population: A Case Study of Xi’an, China

A growing number of studies have investigated the relationship between the travel characteristics and satisfaction with travel and life. However, little previous research has focused on low-income populations. Due to economic constraints, low-income populations have relatively fewer travel options, and are more likely to experience transport poverty, which may further prevent them from participating in social activities, thereby reducing their life chances and wellbeing. Studying the factors contributing to the lower level of travel and life satisfaction of low-income populations is important to improve overall societal wellbeing. Drawing on recent survey data from Xi’an, China, this study explored commuting and life satisfaction amongst the lower income working population. This study found that the lower income respondents consistently reported lower levels of commuting and life satisfaction. Such factors as commuting characteristics and the attitudes towards travel significantly influence commuting satisfaction. After accounting for the attitudes, the independent effects of the built environment on commuting satisfaction become insignificant, but the built environment could affect commuting satisfaction through other mediators, such as travel behavior.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADD50 Standing Committee on Environmental Justice in Transportation. Alternate title: Commuting Satisfaction in Lower-Income Population: Case Study of Xi’an, China.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Ye, Runing
  • Titheridge, Helena
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Case studies; Commuting; Low income groups; Quality of life; Transportation disadvantaged persons; Travel behavior
• Geographic Terms: Xi'an (China)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01594202
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-6686
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 21 2016 4:42PM