The growing role of active and micro-mobility modes: Insights from mode adoption and weekly use by trip purpose

This paper examines the factors influencing the adoption and frequency of use of sustainable transport modes including walking, cycling, electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and public transport, for different trip purposes. Using a two-stage stated preference experiment in metropolitan Australia, we use a mixed multinomial logit model to estimate the probability of adopting door-to-door travel alternatives, followed by a multiple discrete–continuous extreme value model to capture the proportion of weekly trips taken by mode and purpose. Results show that trip purpose plays a significant role in the frequency of use of different modes, with commuting trips associated with greater willingness to shift to electric modes, especially when infrastructure quality is high. In contrast, shopping trips are more sensitive to access mode and mode experience. E-bikes emerge as a flexible option for both commuting and recreational trips, while walking is mainly preferred for short, non-commute travel. The findings underscore the importance of purpose-specific strategies and high-quality infrastructure in promoting sustainable and integrated mobility futures.