Study on the travelers' P&R usage behavior during snowfall in the corridor valley pattern city

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning and Transportation Science
• Environmental Psychology
• Geographical Information Systems

Background:

• Corridor valley pattern cities present unique urban planning challenges, particularly concerning travel behavior during adverse weather.
• Terrain space perception is a critical, yet underexplored, factor influencing transportation choices in such environments.
• Understanding how environmental and individual factors interact with terrain perception is crucial for developing resilient urban mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the four dimensions of terrain space perception in corridor valley cities.
• To investigate the impact of terrain space perception, socioeconomic attributes, built environment, and travel characteristics on Park and Ride (P&R) usage during snowfall.
• To examine how individual socioeconomic attributes influence terrain space perception in these specific urban settings.

Main Methods:

• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for second-order confirmatory factor analysis of terrain space perception.
• Random Parameter Logit Model (RPLM) to assess factors influencing P&R behavior under snowfall.
• Logit model to analyze the influence of socioeconomic attributes on terrain space perception during snowfall.

Main Results:

• The proposed four latent variables of terrain space perception effectively explain traveler perceptions in corridor valley cities.
• Both subjective and objective built environments significantly impact P&R usage during snowfall.
• Heterogeneity exists in terrain space perception among travelers, moderated by gender, age, income, and P&R experience.

Conclusions:

• Terrain space perception is a key determinant of P&R behavior in corridor valley cities, especially under snowfall conditions.
• Urban planners must consider the interplay between built environment, individual characteristics, and terrain perception for effective transportation strategies.
• Tailored interventions considering traveler demographics and P&R experience are needed to enhance mobility in challenging urban terrains.