Changes in travel satisfaction during the day: How pre- and post-trip activities affect travel satisfaction

Travel satisfaction is a crucial factor in evaluating residents’ subjective perceptions of the transportation system and travel experience, as well as in formulating traffic policies. However, the factors that influence travel satisfaction remain controversial. In previous studies, scholars have focused only on travel behavior and neglected the effects of travel-related activity characteristics. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by exploring the influences of activities before and after trips on trip characteristics and travel satisfaction, using a GPS-facilitated activity diary survey conducted in the Shangdi-Qinghe area of Beijing in 2012. Two structural equation models were constructed to examine the different impacts of activity categories and locations. The results indicate that pre- and post-trip activity characteristics exert both direct and indirect influences on travel satisfaction, with the indirect effects mediated by travel behavior characteristics being more pronounced. Pre-trip recreation activities and post-trip activities at flexible places have direct positive effects on travel satisfaction. Public transit travel and trip duration are important mediators. This study highlights the importance of considering activity-travel interactions in travel-related research.