Spill-over effects between daily and air travel behavior: a panel analysis

Abstract The existence of spill-over effects between pro-environmental behaviors has been well documented, but studies in the field of travel behavior are scarce. In this research, we explore the sign and directionality of spill-over effects between daily mode use and air travel behavior. Using data from the Netherlands Mobility Panel, we employ a twofold approach to explore these spill-over effects both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The results of the cross-sectional latent class analysis reveal that the majority of the sample can be labeled as ‘dissonant’. For these travelers, the daily travel pattern is on the sustainable end of the spectrum (as observed in the sample), while the flying behavior is on the unsustainable end, as well as the other way around. The results of the panel analysis indicate that bicycle use has a positive bidirectional relationship with flying for private purposes, providing evidence in favor of both moral licensing and moral cleansing.