Very little research has been done to date to predict the choice of non-motorized modes. With the price of gasoline expected to continue to increase, commuters are more motivated than ever to reevaluate motorized mode choices. By linking cost savings and health benefits of non-motorized commuting, policymakers and proponents of these modes may be able to affect change in mode choice. While this research demonstrates that demand for non-motorized commute trips is inelastic among already motivated commuters with respect to a small financial incentive, the literature and economic models show that policy solutions do affect demand for commute modes. This model shows that season and gender influence mode choice of even those who already use non-motorized modes. Further research is needed to determine the appropriate mix of policy solutions (economic, land use, social) to encourage non-motorized commuting, as well as to size the potential market for non-motorized commuting as even with supportive policies, non-motorized commuting may not be feasible for the majority of commuters.
Samenvatting