Does e-shopping for intangible services attenuate the effect of spatial attributes on travel distance and duration?. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Kunbo; De Vos, Jonas; Yang, Yongchun; Li, Enlong; Witlox, Frank
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 141(2020)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Spatial attributes -- Online shopping -- Intangible services -- Travel distance -- Travel duration -- China; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2020.09.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-8564

Abstract

Highlights: E-shopping for intangible services is likely a challenge for the transportation system. The effect of spatial attributes on travel distance and duration is attenuated by online shopping. Spatial interventions aiming to moderate travel distances and durations may not be as effective as before. Abstract: E-shopping for intangible services (e.g., eating out services, hairdressing, and visits to movie theatres) refers to searching and paying for services online, but it requires e-shoppers to travel to use these services. In theory, e-shoppers' search space via the internet is less constrained by spatial attributes. As a result, spatial attributes may barely affect the distance and duration of trips resulting from e-shopping for intangible services. The present study used data from 714 valid face-to-face interviews in Beijing, China, to verify this hypothesis. The results showed that e-shoppers were likely to travel farther after purchasing intangible services online. The effect of spatial attributes on the distance of a single trip was largely attenuated due to online purchases of these services, and the effect on the duration was correspondingly weaker to a limited extent. Therefore, spatial interventions aiming to moderate travel distances and durations may not be as effective in the age of online shopping.