EUROPA XXI Vol. 31, 2016, pp. 81-94 http://dx.doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2016.31.6 INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHY AND SPATIAL ORGANIZATION POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES www.igipz.pan.pl DETERMINANTS OF DEMAND IN INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORT WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO SPATIAL ASPECT Piotr Rosik Insttute of Geography and Spatal Organizaton Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland rosik@twarda.pan.pl Abstract. Mobility by individual transport is determined by many factors that influence the ownership and use of a car. These factors can be divided into categories related to: spatial structure, household socio-economic and demographic characteristics, situation associated with a given journey, including purposes of journey-making. The aim of the paper is to have a closer look at the aforementioned factors with particular reference to spatial aspect. The conclusions to the article underline that the traffic congestion increases and the quality of public transport improves with the growth of settlement network density, which results in a lower level of car use and lower level of motorization rate. This is particularly noticeable in large cities. In turn, in peripherally located rural areas, there is lack of alternative modes of transport, which, combined with longer travel distances to destinations, contributes both to increased motorization as well as to a relatively higher cars’ mileages. Key words: individual transport, spatial structure, motorization rate, car use. Introduction Mobility by individual transport is determined by a number of factors that influence both the ownership and use of a car. These factors can be divided into categories related to: spatial struc- ture, household socio-economic and demographic characteristics, situation associated with a given journey, including purpose of journey and quality of road and public transport network. The aim of the paper is to have a closer look at the aforementioned factors with particular reference to spatial aspect. Current literature on the transport geography and sociology dedicated to factors influencing the transport mobility is very extensive, (e.g. Button et al. 1982; Ingram & Liu 1999; de Jong 1990; Dargay 2001; Downes 1980; Whelan 2007; Choo & Mokhtarian 2004; Frändberg & Vilhelmson 2011; Matas & Raymond 2008; Ewert & Prskawetz 2002; Polk 2004; Meurs & Haaijer 2001; Acker van & Witlox 2010; Maat & Timmermans 2009; Urry 2007; Komornicki 2011). However, only a relatively small number of papers are oriented around the spatial aspect as a determinant of demand in individual transport. The aim of the present paper is to have a closer look at this subject-matter in the universal dimension of people’s behaviour.