The possibility for reduction of car dependence from the perspective of relocation for compact city

A study on change of travel behavior before and after relocation with a focus on metropolitan area

Abstract

Several studies have already indicated that building of compact urban layout is significant countermeasure for reducing gasoline consumption and achieving sustainability. However, even if the citizens that have car dependent lifestyle move from suburbs to city center, not all of them simply abandon that kind of lifestyle. In order to clarify the change in travel behavior caused by relocation, in this study actual condition of the relationship between residential zone characteristics and the relocation intentions in the case of metropolitan area, using the nationwide data, were analyzed. It was clarified that the car usage increased especially in the suburban areas and there were many people hope to settle down though the car usage decreased in the city center of central city in metropolitan area. Moreover, this study also argues that the car dependence situation can change and environmental load can be decreased in reality by promoting compact city urban layout.