Speaker
Description
Urban mobility significantly shapes accessibility, equity, and social interaction in cities. While commuting patterns have been extensively studied, non-commuting mobility—such as travel for leisure, shopping, and social visits—remains underexplored despite its critical role in urban vibrancy and socioeconomic well-being. Socioeconomic status, including income, age, and gender, influences how individuals navigate urban spaces, and disparities in accessibility persist across demographic groups. Spatial inequities in non-commuting mobility can reinforce social exclusion and limit access to urban opportunities, particularly in a dense and complex city like Seoul. Existing research on urban mobility tends to prioritize commuting behaviors, overlooking the daily activity spaces that define the lived experience of different social groups. This study seeks to address this gap by examining how socioeconomic factors shape non-commuting mobility patterns in Seoul, focusing on activity space distance and destination diversity to provide insights into urban engagement beyond work-related travel.
Despite attention to mobility inequalities, there is limited research on how non-commuting mobility differs across income, age, and gender groups. Understanding who has greater access to mobility beyond work-related travel and which demographic groups face constraints in their daily movement remains an essential but insufficiently explored area of study. Additionally, previous research has largely overlooked the role of destination diversity in mobility studies, despite its implications for social interaction, economic opportunities, and urban vitality. A comprehensive understanding of activity space distance and destination diversity is crucial for identifying spatial inequities and formulating strategies for more inclusive urban mobility. This study aims to quantify the impact of socioeconomic factors on non-commuting mobility in Seoul by examining how income, age, and gender shape travel behavior across different time periods. Specifically, it investigates disparities in activity space distance and destination diversity among various socioeconomic groups and assesses whether lower-income individuals face mobility constraints that limit their access to diverse urban destinations.
Using large-scale mobility data from Seoul, this study uncovers significant socioeconomic disparities in non-commuting mobility patterns. Findings reveal that higher-income individuals tend to travel longer distances for leisure and social activities, whereas lower-income groups exhibit more constrained activity spaces, often limited to their immediate neighborhoods. These findings suggest that financial and time-related constraints may hinder lower-income individuals from accessing diverse urban destinations. Gender disparities are also evident, as women, particularly those in middle-age groups, demonstrate smaller activity spaces and lower destination diversity than men. This pattern may be attributed to safety concerns, caregiving responsibilities, or societal norms that shape women's mobility choices. Age also plays a significant role in mobility patterns; younger individuals exhibit greater destination diversity, suggesting higher spatial flexibility, whereas older adults have more restricted mobility and primarily visit familiar locations. These age-based differences raise concerns about accessibility in an aging society, emphasizing the need for age-friendly urban policies.
The results of this study highlight structural inequalities in urban mobility that limit access to economic, social, and recreational opportunities for disadvantaged groups. By shifting the focus from commuting to non-commuting travel patterns, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of urban mobility experiences and the role of socioeconomic factors in shaping them. The introduction of activity space distance and destination diversity as key metrics offers a nuanced perspective on spatial inequities in Seoul. The study underscores the need for targeted policies to promote equitable access to urban resources, particularly for lower-income, female, and elderly populations. Addressing these disparities requires planners and policymakers to consider interventions such as improved public transportation accessibility, enhanced safety measures, and urban design strategies that foster mobility equity.
References
1.Chong, S. K., Bahrami, M., Chen, H., Balcisoy, S., & Bozkaya, B. (2020). Economic outcomes predicted by diversity in cities. EPJ Data Science, 9(1), 17.
2.Heine, C., Abbiasov, T., Santi, P., & Ratti, C. (2025). The role of urban amenities in facilitating social mixing: Evidence from Stockholm. Landscape and Urban Planning, 254, 105250.
3.Moro, E., Calacci, D., Dong, X., & Pentland, A. (2021). Mobility patterns are associated with experienced income segregation in large US cities. Nature Communications, 12(1), 4633.
4.Wang, S., Zheng, Y., Wang, G., Yabe, T., Moro, E., & Pentland, A. S. (2024). Infrequent activities predict economic outcomes in major American cities. Nature Cities, 1-10.
5.Leng, Y., Santistevan, D., & Pentland, A. (2021). Understanding collective regularity in human mobility as a familiar stranger phenomenon. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 19444.
| Keywords | Non-Commuting Mobility, Destination Diversity, Socioeconomic Disparities, Urban Mobility |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
