Exploring the Use of E-Shopping and Its Impact on Personal Travel Behavior in the Netherlands

Abstract

The Internet makes it possible to conduct activities such as working and shopping without traveling to activity places. As e-shopping becomes popular, it can fundamentally change travel behavior. The presented study uses a literature review, an Internet survey of e-shoppers, and the Netherlands National Travel Survey to analyze the possible impact of e-shopping on travel behavior. The findings indicate that people living in areas with relatively many shopping opportunities buy online as often as do people who live in areas with relatively few shopping opportunities. People who spend a lot of time on in-store shopping typically are women, are more than 60 years old, have a low level of education, are on a low income, and live in a more urbanized area. Online buyers can be characterized as men between ages 25 and 40 who are highly educated, have a high income, and live in a less urbanized area. Four hypotheses were derived to describe the future impact of e-shopping on travel. First, some shopping time will be saved and used for other maintenance or leisure activities instead. Second, the enlargement and fragmentation of an individual’s action spaces will be fostered and so lead to increased travel distances. Third, e-shopping will affect travel behavior most in the urbanized western part and in the less urbanized parts of the Netherlands. Finally, a reduction in car travel in the less urbanized areas of the Netherlands and a reduction in walking and cycling in the more urbanized areas of the Netherlands are expected.