Modelling shopping centre choices: Effects of car ownership on clothing shopping in Singapore

Abstract

The heightening of issues, such as sustainable development and environmental pollution have resulted in many governments pursuing transport policies which aim to promote the use of public transport modes, including walking, as well as discourage the use of the car for various activities, such as shopping, work and recreation. Relatively little has been done, however, on understanding the travel factors in shopping trips and the determinants of shoppers' choice of shopping centre with regards to their transport ownership. Using Singapore as a study area, while examining the characteristics of shopping trips, this study attempts to investigate the determinants of car owners' and non-car owners' choice of shopping centres for clothing shopping. Based on the discrete choice (multinomial logit) modelling technique, the evidence suggests that shoppers who own cars have different considerations from those who do not own cars in their choice of shopping centre for clothing shopping. The findings have significant implications for the various parties involved in the provision and management of shopping centres.