Travel contexts for different forms of multimodality in the new urban mobility landscape: a latent class analysis

Abstract

Multimodality has been recognised as a sustainable way of travel, triggering transport policies to seek solutions that facilitate multimodality. However, although emerging mobility services and transport options in the new urban mobility landscape unlock new possibilities for multimodality, little is known about their roles in different forms of multimodal travel. Therefore, this study investigated the forms of multimodality and their relationship with individual travel contexts considering new trends in the urban mobility sector. In the identification of modality styles, a broader and more detailed set of transport modes was considered; and in the definition of individual travel contexts, a series of factors related to the availability and accessibility of transport options and mobility services were considered. Using latent class analysis, this study identified five modality styles including three forms of multimodality that have not been found in previous research. Distinct forms of public transport (bus, tram, metro, and train) were found to be used in conjunction with other transport modes in different ways, leading to different forms of multimodality. Mopeds and motorcycles, rarely considered in previous research, were found to be the primary travel mode for a small group of people. In addition, weighted multinomial logit regression was used to assess the association between individual travel contexts and modality styles. The results indicate that new mobility services, such as (e-)bike-sharing, have the potential to promote more sustainable forms of multimodality that combine active modes with public transport.