How does the travel effect of e-shopping differ by travel mode? Empirical evidence from Chengdu, China

Abstract

With the growing popularity of e-commerce, there has been a surge of interest in comprehending the potential impacts of e-shopping on travel behavior. However, as individuals may use various means of transportation for their shopping trips, the effect of e-shopping on travel modes might vary accordingly. This study aims to examine how the travel effect of e-shopping differs by travel mode. The data were drawn from face-to-face interviews with 742 respondents in Chengdu, China. The results reveal a substitution effect of e-shopping on shopping trips by all means of transportation considered in this study, including car, public transit, bicycle, and walking. Notably, e-shopping for non-daily goods (i.e., clothes and books) has a greater influence on reducing trips by public transit than other travel modes. Meanwhile, e-shopping for daily goods (i.e., packaged foods and daily necessities) shows a greater substitution effect on walking trips. Furthermore, we identify several factors that influence the substitution effect of e-shopping on the use of travel modes. Particularly, increasing street density has positive implications for reducing car or walking trips, while increasing employment density exerts a positive influence in fostering the use of sustainable travel modes.