An Analysis of Active Transport in Melbourne: Baseline Activity for Assessment of Low Carbon Mobility Interventions

Abstract

This paper analyses current active transport usage in a car-dependent metropolis using household travel survey data. A major conclusion emerges: most people and households did not undertake any reportable active transport usage, despite increasing policy support, education and promotion encouraging uptake. Less than a quarter of the population recorded travel on foot and just over 2% by bicycle, although there are differences by gender and age. There are important implications for policy development and urban design interventions aimed at encouraging greater use of the active modes. This research shows we still have some way to go to achieve the levels of active transport uptake necessary for the creation of environmentally sustainable and healthy communities.

本文利用家庭出行调查数据，分析目前依靠小汽车出行的大都市中主动运输（active transport）的使 用情况，得出一个重要结论：尽管目前政策支持、教育和鼓励措施都有所加强，但是大多数人和家庭 并未频繁使用主动运输。自称经常步行的人口不到四分之一，骑自行车的人数略高于 2%，性别和年 龄差异明显。这一结果对瞄准提高主动运输模式的政策开发和城市设计干预有重要意义。要创造环境 可持续和健康社区，主动运输的使用必须达到一定水平。这项研究说明我们目前离目标尚远。

Keywords:

• Active transport
• car-dependent city
• walking
• cycling
• household travel survey

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the CRC which funded the research project on which this paper is based. In addition, the authors wish to sincerely thank the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, especially Stephen Roddis and Joshua Stewart, for their kind support of this study through the provision of the VISTA database and their advice about its contents and use. The analysis, results and interpretations are, however, strictly those of the authors.

Notes

1. Person-km of travel (PKT) is determined by summing the total distances walked by each individual over all individuals per day. Person-hours of travel (PHT) is determined by summing the total time spent travelling by all individuals. These travel activity indicators can be disaggregated by mode of travel, trip purpose and socio-demographic characteristics, as necessary.

2. The 2010 HTS database was the version available for use by researchers. The latest version of the database is for 2013, but this was not released until late 2016 and so was not available for use in the data analysis provided here.