Household Oil Vulnerability and Travel Behavior Change

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina included restricted oil refining capacity in the southern United States. At-pump gasoline prices increased significantly in August and September 2005 worldwide, including Australia, as a result, and added to the woes of already prolonged world oil price increases. The author outlines and studies changes in individual travel behavior in Australia in response to 2005 gasoline price increases, including increasing use of public transportation, reducing non-essential living expenses, combining trips, and reducing vehicle use. A typical Australian transportation study methodology involves individualized marketing followed by large scale household projects. The concept of "oil vulnerability" was mapped in 2005 using such variables as depending on automobiles to travel to work, household vehicle ownership, and socioeconomic status, and found that households on the outer edge of the suburbs were more vulnerable than others to the effects of increasing gasoline costs, as well as mortgages and inflation, because of the combined factors of automobile travel reliance, housing debt, and moderate income. The author highlights potential changes in both study methodology and agency actions.

• Authors:
  • Meiklejohn, David
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 9-11
• Serial:
  • TDM Review
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Association for Commuter Transportation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile ownership; Automobile travel; Gasoline; Households; Methodology; Prices; Research; Socioeconomic factors; Travel behavior
• Uncontrolled Terms: Oil dependence; Vulnerability
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01046923
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 25 2007 1:48PM