VEHICLE USE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF SHANGHAI, CHINA

Motorization is the substitution of automobiles and trucks for non-motorized travel modes, such as walk or bicycle. China, as the most populous developing country in the world, has started the motorization process, and this phenomenon can be explained by examining people's behavior of vehicle use. Previous research shows that a few key measures (for example, the 3Ds density, diversity and design) can strongly promote the readiness of an area to support walkable, mixed-use development and help residents pursue a lifestyle with less reliance on automobiles. This study focuses on the correlation between vehicle use and the built environment. Using Shanghai as a case study, a survey of 1,037 people was conducted in mid-2006. Vehicle use choice models are developed to address two questions Who is going to use what type of vehicle and why? How does people's vehicle use behavior vary in different types of built environment?