A behavioral explanation of the activity-space segregation: Individuals’ preference of choosing an activity destination

Abstract

The difference in the individuals’ preference of activity destination choice is a new explanation for the activity-space segregation. This study investigates individuals’ preference in the destination choice for their daily activities. It uses revealed preference survey for the choice of the activity destination, and mobile phone dataset for the ambient population at the activity destination in Guangzhou, China. It has found that (1) the activity-space segregation is strongly influenced by the residential segregation, but disadvantaged populations are more spatially constrained by the distance decay effect; (2) all individuals prefer a destination with high diversity of built environment; and (3) migrant people tend to be self-segregated at the activity space, but people with higher education status prefer to take activities at an integrated place.