Citation

Zmud J, Arce C. Transp. Res. Circular 2001; (E-C026): 379-389.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this paper, data from the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS), the American Travel Survey (ATS), the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), and the U.S. Bureau of the Census are used to examine the intersection of consumer culture and travel behavior, particularly as consumerism might influence differences in travel behavior by race/ethnicity. The data indicate that buying power and purchasing behavior among African Americans and Hispanics is increasing at the same time that the trips for consumer activities are nearing 50% of all trips made. Differences by race/ethnicity in travel mode and time of travel for consumer activities will significantly impact overall travel behavior patterns in major urban centers where African Americans and Hispanics are most concentrated. Finally, the social context of consumer activities among African Americans and Hispanics indicates that their trip making for consumer purposes will not be significantly influenced by e-commerce. This paper also suggests that coverage bias hampers analyses of differences by race/ethnicity using NPTS and ATS data.