Travel Budgets: Evidence from a 1974 Survey.

Abstract

This paper describes a sequence of exploratory models fitted to individuals' travel times and overall households' travel times, costs and generalised costs, as reported in the 1974 County Surveyors' Trip Rate Data Bank. The analyses involve an approximate allocation of travel times to those in connection with 'mandatory' activities (assumed fixed in the short term, in frequency and location) and those in connection with 'discretionary' activities (the rest). The most important 'background' variables are identified and discussed. Finally, after controlling for these background variables, a comparison is made between amounts of travel performed in connection with discretionary activities by individuals and households grouped according to reported amounts of 'mandatory' travel. Little or no variation is found, leading to the conclusion that the two sorts of travel are undertaken independently; for example, there is no indication that those reporting above-average amounts of 'mandatory' travel perform below-average amounts of 'discretionary' travel