Putting Behaviour into Behavioural Models of Travel Choice

Abstract

This article argues that disaggregate behavioural travel models are not, as their authors claim, "behaviourally sound and policy relevant". They merely caricature behaviour and produce predictions in conflict with the available evidence. The article sets out to provide a description of household travel behaviour and asks how it can be realistically modelled. It suggests three ways of doing so, using models which are either pragmatic, mathematical, or interactive. The latter is developed in response to the query "if one cannot capture the individuals' decision-making process within a finite set of mathematical equations, then why not use the individual himself as a surrogate for this part of the model?" The article concludes that models of behaviour may have to become more human and less mathematical if they are to give realistic insights into the way in which individuals arrange their activities in time and space.