Exploring the effects of perceived accessibility on travel, activity participation, and well-being

Abstract

Numerous studies have found influential factors of perceived accessibility levels in recent years. What is less well understood is the effect of perceived accessibility on travel, activities, and well-being. This is a significant omission in the respective body of literature as the primary goal of the transport system is to provide users with the necessary opportunities and possibilities to reach destinations and to participate in activities. Arguably, studying perceived accessibility and its determinants is only relevant if these perceptions in turn influence aspects such as travel behaviour, activity participation, satisfaction, and well-being. To fill this gap, this paper systematically identifies and analyses outcomes of perceived accessibility in terms of travel, activity participation, and well-being. For this purpose, we first identify links with outcomes of perceived accessibility in the literature. We then offer a conceptualisation based on the relations identified in the literature, which is empirically validated using a structural equation modelling approach. We find significant relations with activity participation and travel behaviour, but also with daily travel satisfaction, residential satisfaction, and overall life satisfaction. Finally, implications for policy and science as well as a research agenda with possible avenues for future research are presented. The most important lesson is that policies that consider ‘calculated’ accessibility only may fail to enhance satisfaction with life and to reduce (transport-related) social exclusion. Still, more research is needed to understand what other impacts of perceived accessibility are and how these outcomes of perceived accessibility, in turn, reinforce levels of perceived accessibility over time.