The divergent role of spatial access: The changing supply and location of service amenities and service travel distance in Sweden

This research explores and adds to the literature concerning the relationship between spatial structure and travel behaviour; specifically, the relationship between local and regional accessibility to service amenities and the distance of service-related trips. The analysis is based on a unique combination of national travel survey data for Sweden and official register data with detailed, geo-referenced information about the Swedish population and the location of service amenities in 1995 and 2005/2006. The results show that spatial access to service amenities increased in general over the study period, both locally (i.e., within ranges of 1 km and 5 km, respectively, of residential areas) and regionally (within 50 km). Despite increased spatial accessibility, the observed average travel distance also increased. We find strong and differing associations between spatial access to service amenities and travel distance, depending on level of scale. While the association was negative on the local scale (i.e., a numerically large supply of amenities was related to shorter travel distance), it was the opposite and positive, on the regional scale. In terms of implications for policy, the results imply that land use planning measures to promote local access, and thereby reduce traffic volumes, may per se be insufficient for attaining more sustainable levels of mobility.

► We explore the relationship between spatial access and trip length in 1995 and 2005.
► Despite increased accessibility to amenities, trips became longer over the period.
► Spatial access was related to trip length, but the impact is spatially divergent.
► Local access reduces trip length, whereas regional access increases trip length.
► Spatial access retains a key role for explaining travel patterns.