INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL BEHAVIOR UNDER ENERGY CONSTRAINTS

This paper summarizes recent findings concerning actions taken by individuals to save transportation energy during the crisis of 1973-1974. Studies in three small communities in New York State are contrasted with a study in suburban Chicago, and with aggregate trends in car purchasing, transit usage, and urural travel mileage. Significant findings include: (1) in New York, 80% of surveyed households took at least one action to conserve energy, but actions taken were minor in scope, generally involved work travel, and concerned the individual and his immediate family; (2) in Chicago, actions taken concentrated on nonwork travel, also with little impact; (3) both studies suggest that gas price increases alone would not significantly influence travel demand; (4) while total car purchases fell sharply, no shift was observed to smaller cars-- most households appeared to adopt a "wait-and-see" attitude; (5) transit usage rose during the crisis, but slid back later in 1974. /HSRI/

• Corporate Authors:

  New York State Department of Transportation

  Planning Division, State Campus, Building 4
  Albany, NY  United States  12232
• Authors:
  • Hargen, D T
• Publication Date: 1975-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Communities; Energy resources; Households; Rural areas; Surveys; Travel demand; Travel patterns; Work trips
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis; Mileage
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148981
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report No. 86
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 27 1977 12:00AM