Understanding Trip Happiness using Smartphone-Based Data: The Effects of Trip-and Person-Level Characteristics

Abstract

Understanding trip happiness—a measurement of people’s emotional well-being during trips—is an essential aspect of people-oriented transportation planning. We use data collected via smartphones from 350 residents in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region to examine trip-and person-level factors associated with trip happiness. Trip mode, purpose, duration, distance, companionship, activities during the trip, and temporal characteristics of the trip are significantly associated with trip happiness. Mode and companionship are the strongest predictors of trip happiness. Among personal factors, age is the strongest predictor, followed by general happiness of the person. Race, gender, and neighborhood have modest effects on trip happiness.