Relationship Between Activities and Multimodal Travel in Everyday Life

Multimodal travel behavior plays a pivotal role in sustainable transport infrastructure design. Unlocking its potential requires a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing everyday travel. In this study, we investigate the association between activity variability and multimodal travel behavior in Germany using data from the German Mobility Panel. Through descriptive analyses and regression modeling, we explore the activity-related characteristics and contextual factors influencing the adoption of multimodal travel among employees. Our findings reveal that using multiple transport modes positively correlates with engaging in diverse activities. Notably, leisure and shopping activities exhibit a powerful influence on multimodal travel behavior. Moreover, complex travel needs, as indicated by high variations in distances traveled and a more significant number of linked trips, act as additional drivers of multimodal behavior. Furthermore, our results suggest that multimodal travel behavior is more prominent during the transition from weekdays to weekends. These findings contribute to understanding multimodal travel patterns and can inform the development of strategies to promote sustainable and efficient transport systems.