Energy and Scaling Laws in Human Travel Behaviour

TL;DR

This paper reveals universal energy-based laws governing human travel behavior, showing that travel times relate inversely to energy rates and that scaled travel-time distributions are universally similar, aiding urban planning.

Contribution

It introduces energy concepts into travel behavior analysis, demonstrating universal scaling laws and a constant average energy expenditure in daily human travel.

Findings

Travel times are inversely proportional to energy consumption rates.

Scaled travel-time distributions are universally similar across modes.

A constant average energy expenditure characterizes daily travel behavior.

Abstract

We show that energy concepts can contribute to the understanding of human travel behaviour. First, the average travel times for different modes of transportation are inversely proportional to the energy consumption rates measured for the respective physical activities. Second, when daily travel-time distributions by different modes of transport such as walking, cycling, bus or car travel are appropriately scaled, they turn out to have a universal functional relationship. This corresponds to a canonical-like energy distribution with exceptions for short trips, which can be theoretically explained. Altogether, this points to a law of constant average energy consumption by the physical activity of daily travelling. Applying these natural laws could help to improve long-term urban and transport planning.