The socio-economics of travel behavior and environmental burdens: A Detroit, Michigan regional context. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kotval-K, Zeenat; Vojnovic, Igor
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 41(2015)
• Page Start: 477
• Page End: 491
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Travel behavior -- Built environment -- Socio-demographic characteristics -- Environmental impacts; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 354.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2015.10.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1361-9209

Abstract

Highlights: The wealthy consume more gasoline and are responsible for higher levels of emissions. The wealthy are twice as likely to own larger vehicles than those with lower incomes. A neighborhood with no options for alternative travel modes forces exclusive automobile use. Abstract: The transportation industry—particularly light-duty vehicles—is a significant contributor of greenhouse gasses, accounting for about one-third of overall emissions in the U.S. Research to date has studied various factors that impact travel behavior of residents with varying socio-economic characteristics. However, research on the socio-economic characteristics of residents and their impact on environmental burdens within a single urban region, as measured by fuel consumption and vehicular emissions, is recognized as under-represented in the U.S. planning and transportation literature. This study focuses on the Detroit region, Michigan, a unique case study due to the scale of suburbanization and urban decline, yet representative of many mid-western cities. The article explores how socio-economic characteristics impact travel patterns and environmental burdens within six Detroit region neighborhoods. Data on individual travel behavior and personal vehicle characteristics gathered from a mail survey enabled an analysis into how associated environmental burdens varied with socio-economic composition. The analysis explores contributions to environmental burdens between poorer urban and wealthier suburban populations.