The impacts of Internet use upon activity participation and travel: results from a longitudinal diary-based panel study

At the outset of this research, two fields of transport research were in the ascendant. The

first reflected technological change, considering the growth of new information and communications

technologies and their impacts for transport systems and travel behaviour.

The second reflected social change, considering the growth in inequality and disadvantage

and the contribution of transport systems and travel behaviour to the same. This paper

investigates a potential link between the two, exploring the hypothesis that virtual mobility,

via the Internet, could provide a viable alternative to physical mobility in reducing

mobility-related social exclusion. The paper presents data from a longitudinal, panel-based

diary study. Results support the hypothesis that virtual mobility can provide a viable alternative

to physical mobility in reducing aspects of mobility-related exclusion, by providing

additional accessibility (virtual accessibility) without an increase in physical mobility. Furthermore,

there is no evidence in this research to support a link between physical mobility

and virtual mobility; and no evidence to suggest a negative effect of virtual mobility for

sociability.