Car dependency contributors in global metropolitan areas over time

Researchers have extensively investigated car dependency and its drivers, given the significant role of private vehicles as a transport mode and the various adverse effects associated with their use. In this research, we examine the topic at the level of global metropolitan areas . By utilising time series data available on two editions of the Mobility in Cities Database and conducting a longitudinal analysis through the Least Square Dummy Variable model, relevant variables' contribution to the evolution of car dependency is studied in 38 metropolitan areas worldwide. As a consequence, a combination of built environment, public transport and cost of travel variables were detected to influence car dependency over time. Additionally, a comparison is made between the outcome of the current analysis and the results of an earlier cross-sectional research on car dependency in metropolitan areas, that exhibits resemblances and disparities on variables affecting car dependency. Resemblances are observed in categories of determinant variables in both studies that primarily include built environment, public transport and cost of travel. Concerning disparities, different attributes of variables are found to play a part that are density of metropolitan areas and public transport fleet size per million inhabitants for this study but density of the urbanised area of metropolitan areas and public transport kilometres of service and journeys per capita for the earlier cross-sectional study.