Urban Socio-Economic Variables and Intra-Urban Trips in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the relative influence of socio-economic variables of urban centers on intra-city trip
generation. Data were collected on sixteen socio-economic variables and household trip generation in fourteen urban
centers of the state. The nature and degree of relationships between socio-economic variables and trips generated were
established through simple bivariate correlation technique. Multiple regression analysis was used to explain variables
that predict trips generated. The principal component analysis was used to resolve observed collinearity problem in regression
analysis.There is a strong significant positive correlation between trip generated and 13 out of sixteen socio-economic
variables. The principal component analysis on the socio-economic variables produced two components: social
and commercial component and industrial development component.The two components explain 58.68% of variation
in intra-urban trips generated (F=7.830, P≤0.50), (F=13.982, P≤0.50). The industrial development component does not
provide significant explanation.The study emphasizes the need for proper planning and effective monitoring of developing
of socio-economic variables in cities because of their critical influence on trip generation.