Built Environment, Causality and Travel

Within research into influences of the built environment on travel behaviour, the issue of causality has gained increased attention. Several attempts have been made in order to identify the true effects of built environment characteristics by controlling for attitudinal and lifestyle factors and by applying more sophisticated techniques of analysis. Most research still suffers from insufficient theorizing and empirical investigation of causal mechanisms. An implicit conception of causality in terms of correlation between subsequent events appears to be widespread. This paper argues that such a conception of causality is inadequate and can lead to model specification error. Instead, a conception of causality as tendencies engendered by generative mechanisms is proposed. Based on such an understanding, the paper discusses in what sense the built environment can be said to exert causal influences on travel behaviour. In order to integrate knowledge about causal influences at the level of the individual and at the city level, a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods is recommended.