Spatial variations in destination proximity: a regional case study

Although daily non work related travel is much less well documented than the commute, it is still useful to measure the proximity between housing and daily frequented services by means of the excess-commuting framework. A regional case study for Flanders (Belgium) shows that existing variations in spatial proximity are to a large extent determinant for opportunities in making travel more sustainable, although the direct influence of spatial proximity on actual trip lengths is limited. Therefore, spatial proximity should be seen as an indicator for robustness of the spatial-economic system in case transport costs would increase in the future (e.g. through rising energy prices)