Trip mode and travel pattern impacts of a Tradable Credits Scheme: A case study of Beijing

•An analysis framework to investigate the effects of a tradable credits scheme(TCS).•A CES approach to modeling the effects of a TCS on daily trips is proposed.•A TCS discourages travelers’ car use and encourages a switch to transit travel.•A scenario study is based on the 2000 survey of Beijing.

We examine how trip mode and travel pattern of travelers are influenced by a given Tradable Credits Scheme (TCS). An analysis framework is proposed to investigate the effects of a basic TCS. Using a simulation analysis and case study from the Beijing municipality, we demonstrate that a TCS can achieve a target for reducing the expected car kilometers. The research demonstrates that a TCS will have an effect on travelers’ mode choice. However, it is likely to have only a minor effect on the overall travel pattern in terms of OD movements.