Persistent Differences in Walking across the Socioeconomic Spectrum: Variations by Trip Purpose

The relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and walking remains underexamined, and prior research identifies multiple models of walking behavior. This research examines the distribution of walking across SES, using the 2001, 2009, and 2017 National Household Travel Surveys. Statistical models estimate walking rates and likelihoods by trip purpose, controlling for income, education, and other factors. Findings include less walking by middle-SES travelers and specific trip purposes favoring walking by high-SES adults in urban areas. Increases in walking between 2001 and 2017 are broad based, but persistent imbalances suggest the need for a more pluralistic view of walkability.