Determinants of normal and extreme commute distance in a sprawled midsize Canadian city: evidence from Windsor, Canada

This paper investigates the significant factors that explain the traveled distance of normal and extreme commuters in Windsor, Canada. Multivariate regression analysis is applied to a dataset extracted from the 2006 Census of Canada master file. The results indicate that significant socioeconomic and land use determinants of normal commute distance are also applicable to extreme commute distance. However, land use factors are more instrumental when explaining extreme commute distance. The results suggest that sex, age, occupation type, mode of transportation, migration, employment status, mixed land uses, and job concentration at the place of residence of the worker all explain commute distance. The results from the mixed land use variables shed some light on the importance of smart growth in limiting long commutes.

► We model the determinants of normal and extreme commuting distance in Windsor.
► Significant determinants of normal commutes are also applicable to extreme commutes.
► Socio-economic factors are the key drivers of normal commuting distance.
► Land use factors are more instrumental for explaining extreme commuting distances.
► The results highlight the importance of smart growth in limiting long commutes.