Commute Well-Being Among Bicycle, Transit, and Car

Commuters in Portland, OR

Oliver SmithRegion X ConferenceNovember 16, 2012

Questions Commute happiness and…

• Mode options• Bike commuting• Trip length/time • Attitudes and perceptions

Does commuting influence overall well-being?

Most recent commute mode

Bike31%

Transit31%

Car31%

Other6%

Home to Work Shortest Paths

N

Commute Well-Being

Comparison to other

commutesEnjoyment Excitement

Boredom/Enthusiasm

Ease of TripArrival time confidence

CWB STRUCTURE

.92.75 .75 .73 .73 .65 .48

Stress

Commute Well-Being by Mode

Bicycle (n=261)

Walk (n=26)

CTRAN bus (n=19)

Light rail (n=100)

Carpool (n=79)

TriMet bus (n=137)

Drive alone (n=176)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Commute mode

Com

mute

well-b

ein

g

Commute Well-Being by Mode

Bike & Walk (n=287) Transit (n=256) Car (n=255)0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

Commute mode

Com

mute

well-b

ein

g

CWB by Travel Time

Less than 10 10 to 19.9 20 to 29.9 30 to 39.9 40 to 49.9 50 to 59.9 60 +-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

Car

Bike

Trimet

Travel Time (minutes)

Com

mute

Well-b

ein

g

r=-.27

NS

NS

CWB by Traffic Congestion

Not at all congested Somewhat congested Very congested-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

CarBikeBus

Level of congestion

Com

mute

Well-b

ein

g

CWB by Transit Crowdedness

Not at all crowded Somewhat crowded Very crowded0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

MAXTrimet Bus

Degree of Crowdedness

Com

mute

Well-B

ein

g

CWB and DemographicsVariable Direction

Home in Portland +

Four year college degree +

White +

Income > $75K +

Female NS

Age (older) NS

Household size > 2 NS

CWB by Company Location

SE (n=27) SW (n=522) NW (n=138) NE (n=126)0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Quadrant

CW

B

CWB by Easy Commute Modes

0 1 2 3 4 to 5-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

"Easy" Modes

Com

mute

Well-B

ein

g

CWB by Job and Home Satisfaction

Very

Dissat

isfie

d

Som

ewha

t Dissa

tisfie

d

Neith

er D

issat

isfie

d no

r Sat

isfied

Som

ewha

t Sat

isfied

Very

Satis

fied

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

JobHome

Satisfaction

Com

mute

Well-B

ein

g

Regression on CWBMode Walk + Bike +Trip Attributes Travel Time > 40 minutes (car) - Congested (Car, Bus) - Crowded Transit - To Lloyd Center by Bike -Job & Home Satisfaction and Health Job - very satisfied + Home - very satisfied + Health - very good +Attitudes Transition useful + Use trip productively (Trimet, Car) + Only good thing destination (Trimet) - Car safer than bike (Bike) -Demographics Income > $75,000 +Observations 822

R2 0.43

Summary Commuting affects overall well-being Positive

• More mode options• Biking and walking• Greater job and home satisfaction• Better health• Higher income• Transition/Using trip productively

Negative• Traffic congestion• Transit crowding• Travel time (cars)• Biking to Lloyd Center• Safety concerns (bike)