Decoding Behavioural Norms in School Mobility: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis

Abstract

Travel demand modelling for school travel, remains a subject of limited research. The exploitation of factors influencing parents in school mode choice and the understanding of the significance parents attribute to these factors is important, contributing to transport planning and leading to a strategic direction with an ultimate scope to improve the school transportation system and promote the use of alternative transport modes for upgrading the living environment and quality of life in general. The current paper examines the development of a Structural Equation Model (SEM) describing the interrelationships between the factors influencing parents in the decision-making process and the final mode choice. For that, a questionnaire survey is conducted for parents of children aged six to eighteen years old. The collected data are analysed through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Following, an SEM is developed examining the proposed authors' conceptual model, basic hypotheses of school travel choice, and direct and indirect correlations of factors composing parental behaviour.