Methods of measuring mode share and mode shift at different spatial scales and timescales
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2024
Subject Area
mode - bike, mode - bus, mode - car, mode - ferry, mode - pedestrian, mode - rail, place - australasia, planning - surveys, ridership - behaviour, ridership - mode choice, technology - passenger information
Keywords
Active transport, mode share, mode-share toolkit, mode shift, person-kilometres travelled, private transport, public transport
Abstract
The purpose of this research project was to investigate current methods to measure mode share and mode shift in person-kilometres travelled (PKT) at subnational level (regionally and locally), for different spatial scales and timescales, and for three transport modes: active (walking and cycling), private and public.
The New Zealand Household Travel Survey (HTS) and New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings (the Census) are the primary means to monitor travel behaviour in New Zealand. The HTS is conducted annually but has a small sample size. This means that data must be aggregated over several years to produce meaningful results, or even longer to get sufficient samples outside major urban areas. The Census has a large sample size but is conducted only once every five years. Unlike the HTS, it captures only simplistic information about travel activity.
This project involved consulting with stakeholders to identify and review current and emerging technologies and approaches for measuring mode share in New Zealand and overseas. The approaches were categorised as national or regional (household travel surveys), key corridors and city centres (screenline approaches) and transport networks or regions (link-based approaches). The project identified that several authorities (this includes regional and local councils, and transport authorities) are making significant progress towards continuously monitoring transport activity, but they are currently at different stages of upgrading their data-collection approaches and infrastructure. The project identified that consistent guidance on measuring and reporting mode share and mode shift is needed.
A pilot study was conducted that involved transport data provided by four authorities. The data was used to develop a proof-of-concept dashboard that demonstrates it is feasible to develop a framework for measuring mode share and mode shift consistently.
The research culminated in a toolkit for measuring mode share and mode shift. It offers guidance on collecting, processing, analysing and reporting data. As authorities continue to improve their data infrastructure, the toolkit will help generate consistent mode-share and mode-shift results that can be used for numerous applications. These include project appraisals, before-and-after evaluations, monitoring of long-term trends, and sustainability and resilience impact assessments.v
Rights
Permission to publish the abstract has been given by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), copyright remains with them.
Recommended Citation
Han, C., Kochhan, R., Ainalis, D., Sinha, A., & Kutadinata, R. (2024). Methods of measuring mode share and mode shift at different spatial scales and timescales (NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi research report 733).
