Residential Location, Land Use and Transportation: The Neglected Role of Nonwork Travel

Submitted by Urban Insight on
Author

Bumsoo Lee, Peter Gordon, James E. Moore, II, and Harry W. Richardson

Year Published
2005
Abstract
Simple introspection as well as accumulating evidence from academic research
suggests that a core idea of urban economists, that journeys-to-work dominate
households’ choice of residential location, is suspect (Giuliano and Small, 1993). Indeed,
our own recent research identifies neighborhood characteristics (attractions) that help to
explain longer commutes; we found very few neighborhood types that would help to
explain a shorter journey to work (Gordon et al., 2005). Also, findings that reveal the
relative importance of non-work activities and trips, some of which may be amenable to
more flexible scheduling and/or are less essential, also inform the long-running
discussion about the potential power of peak-load road pricing to reduce highway
congestion.
Research Category

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