The Motives Behind Transport Mode Choice: a Study with University Students in Brazil

We analyze the main reasons for the transport mode choice (private vehicle, public transportation, bicycle, walking, and others) among university students in Campinas. Analyses are based on primary data collected from 1,179 students through online and personal interviews in the second semester of 2014. Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis are jointly used to identify common choice groups. Public transport prevails among low-income users, and the main motive for their choice is the lack of alternatives. Students who can afford higher costs tend to prefer a private vehicle, which is seen as being safer and more comfortable. In turn, the adoption of an active mode of transport remains mainly restricted to a small group of users with positive attitudes towards health and the environment. The study finally discusses the implications of structural constraints, such as infrastructure and public safety, on public policies aimed at a sustainable urban transport system.