The effects of planned behaviour, spatiotemporal variables and lifestyle on public transport use: An exploratory study

Abstract

Previous studies with discretionary activities as the context have shown that psychological constructs (volition, desire and past behaviour) are time- and space-invariant. However, discretionary activities are less routine than people’s daily travel patterns (e.g. travel mode usage), which may result in inconsistent results among studies. The present study thus aimed to investigate the effects of temporal, social and spatial variations on the psychological mechanisms underlying more routine activity patterns such as the usage of public transport. This study was expanded to incorporate lifestyle mechanisms to determine the effects of consumption patterns on public transport. In contrast with previous studies using less routine activity patterns, on a routine basis, people’s motivation, volition and past behaviour tended to be time- and space-invariant. Indeed, the perceived ability to engage in activities was not completely predictive of behaviour; however, some spatiotemporal variables, such as mandatory and leisure activity patterns, could predict those with linear patterns of past behaviour, behaviour volition and actual behaviour. Built-environment variables (e.g. residing in areas with higher population density and being near the city centre) tend to shape public transport usage. However, shaping the built environment and having the commitment and intention to use public transport is not likely enough to shift people to use public transport. Making people loyal to public transport and focusing on those who have less commitment to perform mandatory and in-home discretionary activities are two variables that tend to shape high public transport usage.