The Role of Subcentres for Commuting and Non-Work Travel Distances and Modes in the Copenhagen Metropolitan Region

Understanding the functional geography of the metropolitan region, and developing location criteria for smart growth, requires analysis of subcentres and their effects. Subcentres were identified in the Copenhagen area based on spatial analysis of micro-level employment and retail data. Subcentres' effects on transport in addition to regional centrality were studied with regression analysis of work and nonwork travel behaviour data. Distance to employment subcentres with a minimum of 10,000 jobs and distance to subcentres identi fied from retail data and having a minimum of 400 retail jobs affects residents' daily travel distance and/or transport modes. A short distance to a subcentre allows for shorter daily travel distances and, in the case of retail subcentres, for a higher probability of using public transport or walking/cycling. However, the effects of subcentres are well below the still strong and significant effect of regional centrality upon travel distances as well as mode choice.