Travel Behavior Dynamics in Multimodal Urban Transportation Systems: Public Transit and Active Mobility

In the context of transportation planning, addressing heterogeneity in travel behavior is essential for developing user-centered and inclusive transportation systems. This dissertation explores the dynamic pattern of travel behavior by investigating the heterogeneity of travel behavior among urban mobility system users, focusing on multimodal transportation services in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. The research examines heterogeneity of travel behavior within the Chicago Metropolitan Area by integrating multiple dimensions of mobility, including public transit use and active mobility safety, specifically pedestrian and micromobility safety. Understanding these behavioral dynamics is essential for developing inclusive, user-centered transportation systems and for identifying the socio-economic disparities in urban mobility services. Through three complementary studies, this dissertation highlights both structural and behavioral differences influencing mobility outcomes and presents an integrated framework to assess mobility gaps and guide policy strategies that enhance transportation benefits for marginalized and transit-dependent communities. The first study explores heterogeneity in factors influencing public transit rider satisfaction and loyalty focusing on the differences between captive (transit-dependent), choice, and voluntary riders. Moreover, the study identifies both one-dimensional and intersectional heterogeneity across gender, income, education, and physical ability. The results reveal that distinct rider cohorts value different aspects of service quality, such as reliability, comfort, and accessibility. We translated this heterogeneity into policy implications specific for each rider group. The findings highlighted service gaps and associated outcome of dissatisfaction of each rider group. The second study investigates racial and spatial disparities in pedestrian safety, focusing on how built environment and neighborhood-level characteristics contribute to uneven exposure to crash risks. Since walking is integral to first- and last-mile transit connections, pedestrian safety represents a critical component of mobility for transit-dependent population. Using spatial econometric models and historical crash data, the study uncovers how racial segregation affects pedestrian crash risk. The findings highlight the structural nature of safety inequities and emphasize the importance of equitable infrastructure investments in mitigating pedestrian crash risk in marginalized communities. The third study examines the attitudinal and socio-economic determinants of risky riding behavior among shared e-scooter users, a rapidly expanding micromobility mode. The analysis reveals that unsafe riding attitudes and riding confidence are the most influential predictors of risk engagement, while accident experience, infrastructure suitability, and risk perception also play significant roles. We demonstrated that the socio-demographic characteristics particularly gender, age, education, and car use frequency further shape behavioral heterogeneity. The results advance understanding of how psychological and contextual factors shape micromobility safety offering insights for policymakers and vendors seeking to design safer operational environments. The findings of this thesis offer valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and transit agencies highlighting the need for integrating heterogeneity in travel behavior into transportation planning and equity analyses within urban planning. By identifying dynamics of travel behavior, this research informs strategies for improving transit infrastructure, enhancing pedestrian environments, and addressing disparities in the public transportation systems. Ultimately, the recommendations from this research can inform decision-makers in designing and planning urban transportation systems that are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the diverse needs of all users particularly marginalized and transit-dependent communities.

Author dc:creator

• Sina Asgharpour Yengejeh (23291716)

• Transportation
• Urban and Regional Planning

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.31451476.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31451476