Toward an Understanding of the Built Environment Influences on The
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Toward an Understanding of the Built Environment Influences on the Carpool Formation and Use Process: A Case Study of Employer-based Users within the Service Sector of Smart Commute’s Carpool Zone by Randy Bui A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Geography & Program in Planning University of Toronto © Copyright by Randy Bui 2011 Toward an Understanding of the Built Environment Influences on the Carpool Formation and Use Process: A Case Study of Employer-based Users within the Service Sector of Smart Commute’s Carpool Zone Randy Bui Master of Science Department of Geography & Program in Planning University of Toronto 2011 Abstract The recent availability of geo-enabled web-based tools creates new possibilities for facilitating carpool formation. Carpool Zone is a web-based carpool formation service offered by Metrolinx, the transportation planning authority for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), Canada. The carpooling literature has yet to uncover how different built environments may facilitate or act as barriers to carpool propensity. This research explores the relationship between the built environment and carpool formation. With respect to the built environment, industrial and business parks (homogeneous land- use mix) are associated with high odds of forming carpools. The results suggest that employer transport policies are also among the more salient factors influencing carpool formation and use. Importantly, the findings indicate that firms interested in promoting carpooling will require contingencies to reduce the uncertainty of ride provision that may hamper long-term carpool adoption by employees. ii Acknowledgments The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the contribution, support and guidance of several individuals. First and foremost, my deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Ron Buliung who has supervised me throughout my Undergraduate and Master theses. Ron, I sincerely thank you for your guidance and patience throughout these years. Without your continued confidence in me, I would have never achieved the success so far in my academic career. Secondly, I like to thank my committee members (Dr. Joseph Leydon & Dr. Pierre Desrochers) for their participation in my defense and providing me with meaningful feedback. I also would like to acknowledge Ryan Lanyon from Metrolinx for providing assistance and funding support to carry out this research. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be involved in a project that has made me a more conscious commuter. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the donors and the Department of Geography for awarding me the Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (ESRI Canada Scholarship). I’d like to extend my thanks to friends, fellow grad students, and the supportive administrative staff of the Department of Geography at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Finally, I sincerely thank my parents, Anh Huynh and Vinh Bui, for providing me with support throughout my entire life. iii Table of Contents Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... vii 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Carpooling in North America .................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Defining Carpooling .................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 History of Carpooling .............................................................................................................. 10 1.4 Research Objectives ................................................................................................................ 13 1.5 Outline of Thesis ..................................................................................................................... 13 2 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Socio-economic & Demographic Characteristics ................................................................... 15 2.2 Motivation for Carpooling ...................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Workplace Characteristics ....................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Household Auto-Mobility ....................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Commute Distance .................................................................................................................. 19 2.6 Scheduling of Work ................................................................................................................ 20 2.7 Role Preference ....................................................................................................................... 21 2.8 Links with Transportation Demand Management (TDM) ...................................................... 21 2.9 Built Environment ................................................................................................................... 22 2.10 Summary & Synthesis ............................................................................................................. 23 3 Study Area, Data, Methodology ..................................................................................................... 25 3.1 Study Area ............................................................................................................................... 26 iv 3.2 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.1 Dataset, Data Limitations, Data Filtering ................................................................... 30 3.2.2 Model Specification .................................................................................................... 39 3.2.3 The Explanatory Variables Overview ......................................................................... 41 3.2.4 Spatial Modeling ......................................................................................................... 53 4 Results ............................................................................................................................................. 58 4.1 Sample Exploration ................................................................................................................. 58 4.1.1 Sample Geography ...................................................................................................... 58 4.1.2 Formed versus Non-Formed ....................................................................................... 61 4.2 Logistic Regression ................................................................................................................. 66 4.2.1 Bivariate Results ......................................................................................................... 67 4.2.2 Multivariate Results .................................................................................................... 72 4.3 Spatial Modeling ..................................................................................................................... 73 4.3.1 Carpool Hotspots ........................................................................................................ 74 4.3.2 Spatial Autocovariate Regression Results .................................................................. 79 5 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 82 5.1 Formed versus Non-formed .................................................................................................... 83 5.2 Logistic Regression Modeling ................................................................................................ 91 5.3 Carpooling Hotspots ................................................................................................................ 93 5.4 Spatial Modeling and Implications ......................................................................................... 97 6 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 100 6.1 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................................ 100 6.2 Policy Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 103 6.3 Future Research ....................................................................................................................