Are Baby Boomers' Non-Work Trip-Making Behavior Different than Millennials? Lessons Learned from NHTS Data

TL;DR

This study compares non-work travel behaviors between Millennials and Baby Boomers using NHTS data, revealing distinct patterns that can inform transportation planning and demand management strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a bootstrapped segmented ordered logit model to analyze generational differences in non-work travel behaviors using national survey data.

Findings

Millennials working from home tend to make fewer non-work trips.

Baby Boomers are more likely to make frequent non-work trips.

Ride sharing is more associated with Baby Boomers' non-work travel.

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison between Millennials' and Baby Boomers' non-work travel behaviors using data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey. Bootstrapped segmented ordered logit models are employed to capture the variability in travel preferences and trip frequency across these generational groups, providing more robust insights into their non-work travel. Millennials, particularly those who work from home, are found to have a negative association with higher non-work trip frequency, whereas Baby Boomers have a positive association with higher non-work trip frequency. The model results show that female Millennials who are heads of households are more likely to make non-work trips but less likely when living in urban areas. Ride sharing among Baby Boomers shows a higher association with non-work travel compared to Millennials. These insights could have implications for travel demand management, as shifting travel patterns necessitate adjustments in infrastructure investments and management strategies to support effective long-term transportation planning.