SECOND ROLE OF THE WORK TRIP-VISITING NONWORK DESTINATIONS (ABRIDGMENT)

This paper reviews findings of home interview origin-destination data collected from the Fresno-Clovis area, California in 1971 regarding additional roles of the work trip. It was found on a typical weekday that approximately one-third of the households in which the head is employed visit one or more nonwork destinations as part of a trip to or from the workplace. Although these findings seem to deviate from conventional wisdom, it is pointed out that the travel patterns found in Fresno are consistent with those found in studies of other cities conducted by Ginn and Horowitz. This shift from conventional work trip travel patterns--the sole function being to get people to and from the workplace--is explained by an emphasis on using transportation policy to help achieve air pollution goals and energy conservation goals. An understanding of the extent to which and the reasons why household members use workplace-related trips to visit nonwork destinations seems essential for effective transportation planning.