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This paper addresses interagent interactions, an issue that has received limited attention in travel behavior research. Drawing upon the theory of externalities and the sociological notion of social networks, we develop a discrete choice model that incorporates elements of social influence in addition to more conventional factors such as the attributes of alternatives and the characteristics of decisionmakers. Using simulation, we apply the model to the case of telecommuting—that is, the decision to telecommute or not—over two waves. The experiment suggests that some marginal adopters of telecommuting are influenced heavily in the second wave by the decisions of others in the first wave. Furthermore, the example illustrates the importance of social influence on new adopters of telecommuting in the second wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we revisit the excess-commuting technique and its links with urban form. The uncertainty in measurement is highlighted, as are the problems relating to changes in excess com- muting over time. The measure of the theoretical maximum commute is proposed and added to the traditional excess-commuting measure so that the use of both the minimum and maximum levels can capture the concept of commuting potential. This measure is what we call the ‘extended excess-commuting measure’. These concepts are tested through the use of a simulation exercise. As well as arguing for the inclusion of socioeconomic variables in analysis, we demonstrate that decentralisation in urban spatial structure can lead to either an increase or a decrease in average commuting distance. Some of the inconsistencies in the use of excess commuting can be reduced through the use of actual commutes together with the commuting range, as these factors in combination lead to a clearer understanding of commuting efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]