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How does purchasing intangible services online influence the travel to consume these services? A focus on a Chinese context

Shi, K; Cheng, L; De Vos, J; Yang, Y; Cao, W; Witlox, F; (2021) How does purchasing intangible services online influence the travel to consume these services? A focus on a Chinese context. Transportation , 48 pp. 2605-2625. 10.1007/s11116-020-10141-9. Green open access

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Abstract

A considerable number of empirical studies have explored the effects of information & communication technologies (ICT) on travel in recent years. In particular, the most attention has been paid to whether the use of ICT increases or decreases trip frequency (i.e., substitution or complementarity effects). However, the subject of whether or how travel distance and mode choice are altered by ICT (i.e., modification effects) has almost been ignored. Against this background, using data collected in Beijing, China, this paper aims to explore how purchasing intangible services (e.g., eating out at restaurants, hairdressing, and visits to zoos and movie theatres) online alters the distance and mode choice of the travel to consume these services. The results suggest that due to online purchases of intangible services, people tend to travel farther to consume these services. Consequently, 25.4% of online buyers change their travel mode choices from walking or cycling (i.e., nonmotorized modes) to public transit, private cars, or taxis (i.e., motorized modes). These findings confirm the existence of modification effects of ICT on travel. Additionally, a stepwise multinomial logistic regression model and a stepwise binomial logistic regression model are used to detect the factors influencing changes in travel distance and mode choices, respectively. The regression outcomes suggest that people who have lower living costs or feel more satisfied with online purchases are more likely to increase their travel distances and to change from nonmotorized modes to motorized modes.

Type: Article
Title: How does purchasing intangible services online influence the travel to consume these services? A focus on a Chinese context
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1007/s11116-020-10141-9
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-020-10141-9
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: ICT, Online purchases, Intangible services, Travel distance, Travel mode choice, China
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > The Bartlett School of Planning
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10113987
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