WHY DOES THE USE OF PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION DEVICES SEEM MORE PREVALENT OUTSIDE THE US?
Whenever I travel outside the United States, I notice a lot more people seem to be using personal transportation devices than in the US. Is there a rational explanation for this? Another way to phrase this question is “What explains an individual’s choice of transportation mode?” There is actually a fairly large body of academic research on this question. I believe that in the long run, on average, individuals tend to make rational choices– that is, choices that maximize their own well being and satisfaction. In fact, this is the basic assumption that underlies most economic theory. To explain transportation choices, we need therefore to understand the factors that underlie individual satisfaction with transportation choices. Some of these factors are: • cost (operating cost, acquisition cost, maintenance costs) • door-to-door transit time • safety • physical exercise • cargo capacity • passenger capacity • schedule flexibility • weather effects • style/fashion/image Note that these f
