Satisfaction with the commute: The role of travel mode choice, built environment and attitudes

Most of previous research that investigates the connections between the travel and satisfaction with travel has focused on the effect of the travel characteristics (e.g. travel mode choice, travel time, level of service, etc.) on satisfaction with travel. Little research has explored the role of the built environment or travel attitudes, two important factors for transport policies. Using data from a recent survey conducted in Xi’an, China, this study aims to quantitatively explore the relative effects of the built environment, travel attitudes, and travel characteristics on commute satisfaction. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The model results suggest that commuting characteristics, including mode choice, congestion, and level of services of transit, all directly influence commute satisfaction. Attitudes have both direct and indirect effects on commute satisfaction, while the built environment only has indirect effects through influencing commuting characteristics.