Impact of attitudes and residential location preferences on automobility behavior: A comparison of millennials and olders adults.

Keywords: millennials, automobility, travel behavior, attitudes, Canada
Session Type: Virtual Paper
Day: Wednesday
Session Start / End Time: 4/7/2021 09:35 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/7/2021 10:50 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 33

Abstract

Millennials were anticipated to be less car-oriented and more likely to bike, walk and use transit compared to other generations. However, recent studies suggest that although millennials prefer active modes of travel and transit, their automobility profile is increasingly similar to previous generations. This study explores this hypothesis at the municipal level by comparing millennials and older adults (65+ years) attitudes and preferences towards different travel modes and residential locational characteristics by collecting cross-sectional data. Multivariate analysis of data from 101 millennials and 100 older adults from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada show that attitudes and locational preferences do influence millennials' automobility behaviors with respect to the use of automobiles, automobile use as a driver or passenger, driver’s license holding status, and household’s vehicle ownership. The results suggest that even though millennials are more likely to prefer walking and biking than driving compared to older adults, they are more likely to have a driver’s license. Compared to older adults, millennials who agreed that their travel needs could not be met without a car are more likely to use automobiles. Millennials who agreed that they don’t need a car for their day to day travel are less-auto oriented, but they have a higher likelihood of having a driver’s license. In terms of residential locational characteristics, compared to older adults, millennials who prefer more off-street parking in their neighborhood are more likely to be auto-oriented. On the other hand, the preference for living near transit influences millennials to be less auto-oriented.