Beyond objective attributes: the role of perceived situational factors in student commuting satisfaction and behaviour

This study examines how perceived situational factors shape the use of different transport modes. Moving beyond objective characteristics, it focuses on users’ subjective evaluations of travel attributes and the importance assigned to them. The study proposes an integrated, experience-based framework that structures perceived transport characteristics within an unified and mode-specific perspective, rather than treating them as isolated dimensions. Based on data from 517 French students, path analyses were conducted across four transport modes. Results show that determinants of usage are largely mode-specific, whereas satisfaction is more consistently explained by reliability, travel time, and perceived security. Flexibility emerges as a key driver of sustainable modes, while private car use is primarily associated with physical comfort and price. Satisfaction mediates the effects of several factors on usage for most modes, except rail transports. These findings highlight the importance of considering mode-specific perceived characteristics, reflecting how users subjectively evaluate transport options.