Investigating the Effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Citizens' Travel Pattern

Abstract

This study makes an effort to investigate the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on daily urban travel patterns. The main research question is based on the capability of ICT in reducing trip production (generation and attraction). The results obtained from the analysis of the data extracted from a questionnaire given to a sample population of 300 people from Golestan Town, Shiraz-South of Iran-in 2011 revealed that there is a tendency towards decreasing the amount of urban travels through encouraging virtual travels and telecommuting. Most of the people who answered the questionnaire tend to have an economical approach towards the daily travel patterns through the use of at least one ICT method for special trips. On the other hand, the majority of the people questioned believed that ICT has not been full successful in replacing physical trips to supply various needs and can only be of use as a powerful supplement for the purpose of decreasing the amount of physical trips if the existing services are improved and enjoy a higher level of public satisfaction.