So far, the debate in international literature about the influence of spatial structure on car mobility is mainly based on two types of research: (1) an analysis of actual travel behaviour of people in different spatial structures; and (2) forecasting travel behaviour with the help of simulation models. Both approaches are based on the idea that travel behaviour is the result of individual decisions in time and space. These approaches do not make clear which other choice opportunities for travel behaviour individuals from a time-spatial perspective have. In this paper, these choice opportunities of the inhabitants of the Rokkeveen neighbourhood in the Dutch city of Zoetermeer are analysed. For these analyses MASTIC-2 (Model of Action Space in Time Intervals and Clusters) was used. This model has four key variables as basis for simulations: (i) the distance between bases (residential and fixed work location); (ii) the available time interval; (iii) travel time ratio; and (iv) travel speed. The activities in which people at this moment participate form the activity programme: the sequence in which activities are performed and/or the locations can be changed. The paper concludes that people have more opportunities to use public transport or slower transport modes than is realised by their actual behaviour, from a time-spatial perspective. (A)
Abstract