Road pricing and relocation. Not many studies exist concerning relocation choices due to introduction of a road pricing scheme. Furthermore, these studies often lack (extensive) research into the effect the type of question may have on the reported relocation choices at one hand and into important significant variables influencing relocation choices on the other hand. On basis of empirical data, derived from a questionnaire among commuters driving by car, we found that the type of question influences the extent to which people say that they want to relocate. A question in which respondents are asked more directly about the chances to change their home location due to pricing leads to a higher amount of people indicating there will be a significant chance of moving. When looking at changing home locations (closer to work) in more detail we find that variables such as income, age, education level, distance, travel cost compensation by employer and the chance of changing location within 2 years (regardless of pricing measure) have an important explanatory influence. Many of these variables are also significant when relocation of workplace is considered. However gross household income and the extent to which the respondents are aiming to change their home location within 2 years seem to be less significant. In contrary the number of days standing in traffic jams and gender are more reliable. Further research will focus on getting a more realistic insight into relocation choices for different pricing measures and for more realistic price levels. (Author/publisher)
Abstract