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Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between transportation and wellbeing: the conditions humans need to flourish at all levels. Using the results gleaned from our literature review of 44 articles, we found correlations linkages between transportation elements and components of physical, psychological, economic, and social wellbeing. These transportation factors affected overall wellbeing, not merely wellbeing during travel. We find that active travel, followed by public transit, are the best travel modes for wellbeing, and that congestion, pollution, and transport disadvantage harm wellbeing. Our findings also indicate that multimodal, people-focused infrastructure corresponds to higher wellbeing. Generally, the four areas of wellbeing we studied seem to be interrelated and influence one another; they “stack” in a way that determines total wellbeing. These results indicate a strong need for accessible, affordable, and high-quality public transit, active transportation facilities, traffic-calming, and walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, as these resources promote wellbeing. We also reiterate the need to continue efforts to reduce transportation air and noise pollution and congestion; these factors create many issues for travelers and inhabitants of polluted or congested areas. Moreover, women, children, older people, and people belonging to minority groups were more likely to receive greater benefits or disadvantages from these factors than other travelers. This demonstrates a need for continued efforts focused on travel behavior change and travel demand management, since travel-related demand, perception, and behavior all influence wellbeing.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

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