A path analysis of social networks, telecommunication and social activity–travel patterns

The aim this study is to analyse the relationships between socio‐demographic and land‐use variables, social networks, the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and social activity–travel patterns. Using path analysis, hypotheses on these links are tested. The analyses are based on a unique data set collected in 2008 in the Eindhoven region in the Netherlands among 747 respondents, using a 2‐day social interaction (and travel) diary and a questionnaire. The results of the path analysis show many significant effects of socio‐demographic and land‐use variables. In addition, the results suggest that social networks generate social activities and travel. Regarding the relationship between ICT‐use and social travel the results indicate that ICT‐use has a substitutional (or neutral) effect on social travel, whereas the effect of social travel on ICT‐use is neutral or complementary.