180000 TRAVELING

Category Description

2003+: All traveling is coded here, regardless of mode or purpose. Walking is considered traveling when used to get from one destination (address or building) to another, but not when the primary purpose is exercise.

Activity Coding Rules

General rule: To code all travel except homebound trips, look ahead to the next activity/destination before coding a travel episode. To code the homebound travel episode, look backwards to the previous activity.

General rule: Travel is always the primary activity if reported as a simultaneous activity, even if travel is not recorded first.

Single destination trips

2003+: Direct trips to/from a destination: Code as Traveling/Travel Related to relevant destination or activity. For example, code traveling to and from work as Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501). Multi-leg trips: Code all legs associated with one destination according to the trip destination. For example, driving to the train station, waiting for the train, taking the train to work, and walking from the train station to work should all be coded as Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501). This rule is applied to all multi-leg trips, not just commuting. For example, riding to the neighbor's house, picking up car, and driving to the grocery store should all be coded as Traveling/Travel Related to Consumer Purchases/Travel related to grocery shopping (180701).
2020+: Direct trips to/from a destination: Code as Traveling/Travel Related to [relevant activity]. For example, if a respondent traveled from home to their workplace, worked at their main job, and then traveled back home, the travel episodes would be coded as Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501). Multi-leg trips: Code all legs associated with one destination according to the first activity done at the trip destination. For example, a string of travel that involves driving to the train station, waiting for the train, taking the train to work, and walking from the train station to work, followed by an episode of working, should all be coded as Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501). This rule is applied to all multi-leg trips, not just commuting. For example, a string of travel that involves riding to the neighbor's house, picking up a car, and driving to the grocery store, followed by grocery shopping, should all be coded as Traveling/Travel Related to Consumer Purchases/Travel related to grocery shopping (180701). (Modified for clarity: September 2020)

Multiple destination trips

2003+: Code each travel episode of a multiple destination trip according to each destination. For example, code driving from home to work as Travel related to working (180501), from work to the bank as Travel related to using financial services and banking (180802), from the bank to the grocery store as Travel related to grocery shopping (180701), and from the grocery store to home as Travel related to grocery shopping (180701).
2020+: Code each travel episode of a multiple destination trip according to the activity done at each destination. For example, if a respondent drives from home to their workplace and works, then code the travel as (180501) Travel related to working; if the respondent then drives from their workplace to the bank and deposits money, code the travel as (180802) Travel related to financial services and banking; if the respondent then drives to the grocery store and purchases groceries, code the travel as (180701) Travel related to grocery shopping. (Modified for clarity: September 2020)

Trips home

2003: Code according to the last stop. For example, if someone had been at work for 8 hours, then drove from work to the bank and stopped for 5 minutes and then drove home, code driving from the bank to home as Traveling/Travel Related to Professional and Personal Care Services/Travel related to using financial services and banking (180802).

2004+: Code according to the last stop. For example, if someone had been at work for 8 hours, then drove from work to the bank and stopped for 5 minutes and then drove home, code driving from the bank to home as Traveling/Travel Related to Professional and Personal Care Services/Travel related to using financial services and banking (180802). Exception: Code traveling home in the middle of a work or school day to the activity done at home, not to work or school. For example, if the respondent works, then goes home for lunch, then returns to work, code the trip home as Traveling/Travel Related to Eating and Drinking/Travel related to eating and drinking (181101), and code the return to work as Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501). (Updated: February 2004)

2020+: Code the purpose of travel according to the activity done at the last stop before the respondent arrived at home. For example, if someone had been at work for 8 hours, then drove from their workplace to the bank, spent 5 minutes at the bank withdrawing cash, and then drove 50 home, code driving from the bank to home as Travel related to financial services and banking (180802). Exception: Code traveling home in the middle of a work or school day to the activity done at home, not to work or school. For example, if the DP works, then goes home for lunch, then returns to work, code the trip home as travel related to eating and drinking (181101), and code the return to work as travel related to working (180501). (Modified for clarity: September 2020)

Waiting for the bus/train

2003+: Code any waiting related to travel as part of the travel episode. For example, code waiting for the bus (to commute to work) as Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501).

Commuting or work-related travel

2003: Code home to work and work to home (including multi-leg trips) as commuting, provided there are no intervening activity stops. Code travel undertaken after arriving at work according to the next activity destination. If such activities have an M or O in the WORK column, then code the travel as work-related, not commuting. Travel to return to work after leaving work for another activity (such as lunch or shopping) should be coded as work-related travel, not commuting. See desk aids for a table demonstrating how to code.

Walking someplace

2003+: Code as Traveling/Travel Related to relevant activity/relevant activity. Walking qualifies as traveling. Exceptions: Walking for exercise should be coded as Sports, Exercise, and Recreation (130131). Walking the dog should be coded as pet care under Household Activities (020601). Walking a child to the child's event should be coded as Traveling related to childcare (180300 or 180400). Walking around as part of another activity (touring a museum, walking through a zoo, attending a guided nature walk, etc.) should be coded as part of the main activity.

Travel as part of job

2003+: For taxi drivers, bus drivers, chauffeurs, traveling sales workers, and other workers for whom travel is an essential part of their job, code travel time as Work and Work-Related Activities/Working/Work, main job or Work, other job (050101 or 050102) unless travel reason is clearly not work. Exception: The first and last travel episodes for people who drive for a living should be coded under Traveling/Travel Related to Work/Travel related to working (180501).

Travel as a volunteer activity

2005+: Some volunteer activities involve driving as the activity (for example, delivering meals to the disabled or elderly, transporting individuals who need a ride, driving a float in a parade, providing on-the-road driving instruction, etc.). If the respondent reports driving as a volunteer activity, code it as Volunteer Activities (150000, unless the travel reason is clearly not a volunteer activity. Examples of excerpts from a respondent's diary day: If the verbatim mentions "Drove car to distribution center" and has "Car, truck, or motorcycle" under WHERE column, do not treat it as a volunteer activity but code it as Traveling/Travel Related to Volunteering/Travel related to volunteering (181501). If the verbatim mentions "Picked up meals for delivery" and has "Distribution center" under WHERE column, treat it as a volunteer activity and code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Food preparation, presentation, clean-up (150201). If the verbatim mentions "Delivered meals to the elderly with Meals-On-Wheels program" and has "Car, truck, or motorcycle" under WHERE column, treat it as a volunteer activity and code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Food preparation, presentation, clean-up (150201). If the verbatim mentions "Drove home" and has "Car, truck, or motorcycle" under WHERE column, do not treat it as a volunteer activity but code it as Traveling/Travel Related to Volunteering/Travel related to volunteering (181501). If the verbatim mentions "Watched TV" and has "Home" under WHERE column, do not treat it as a volunteer activity but code it as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Television and movies (not religious) (120303). (Added: April 2005)

Using a taxi

2003+: Code as Traveling/Travel Related to activity, rather than as Consumer Purchases (070000).

Warming up the car

2003+: Code as part of the next travel episode (traveling related to...), even if the DP does other activities before the traveling episode. Example: "warming up the car" (180501), "packing lunch" (020201), "kissing husband goodbye" (120101), "driving to work" (180501), "working" (050101). Exceptions: If warming up the car for someone else to travel, code as Household Activities/Vehicles/Vehicles, n.e.c. (020799). If warming up the car is clearly not in preparation for any travel, but rather for a tune-up or to check engine oil, code as Household Activities/Vehicles/Vehicle repair and maintenance (by self) (020701).

Travel with no destination

2003+: If respondent reports driving, but changes mind and returns home before reaching a destination, code as Traveling, n.e.c. (189999).
2020+: If DP reports driving, but changes their mind and returns home before reaching a destination, code as Traveling, N.E.C. (189999). Exception: This is different from driving for pleasure. If someone reports going on a drive as their activity, this would be coded to 181205 Travel as a form of entertainment. See travel rule #13. (Updated: September 2020)

Airport, train station, or bus depot travel activities

2003+: Code activities associated with travel (such as "checking in at the reservation counter" or "picking up baggage") as Traveling, n.e.c. (189999).

Travel as a form of entertainment

2005+: When a respondent reports driving for pleasure or sightseeing, code it as Travel as a form of entertainment (2005+) (181205). This is an exception to the general travel rule: the next activity/destination does not identify travel purpose and it is wrong to use the "Missing travel or destination" code. Examples of excerpts from a respondent's diary day: If the verbatim mentions "Ate lunch" [at] "Home" under WHERE column, code it as Eating and Drinking/Eating and Drinking/Eating and drinking (110101). If the verbatim mentions "Went on a scenic drive" [in] "Car, truck, or motorcycle" under WHERE column, code it as Traveling/Travel Related to Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Travel as a form of entertainment (2005+) (181205). If the verbatim mentions "Grocery shopping" [at] "Grocery store" under WHERE column, code it as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Grocery shopping (070101). If the verbatim mentions "Watched TV" at "Home" under WHERE column, code it as Data Codes/Unable to Code/Missing travel or destination (500103). (Added: April 2005)

Security procedures

2003+: If respondent reports undergoing security procedures (such as "passing through the metal detector," "being searched at security checkpoint," "opening bags for security search") related to traveling, code as Security Procedures Related to Traveling (181800).

Travel home as the first activity of the day

2012+: When homebound travel is the
first activity of the day, interviewers must ask the probe, "Were you traveling home from vacation, shopping, visiting others, business or work, or something else? " The reason for the travel episode should appear in parentheses beside the verbatim. The following offers coders guidance on coding homebound travel when it is the first activity of the day. (Added: February 2012).

Reason for travel (Code)
Taking care of my elderly parents (180404: Travel related to caring for non-household adults)
Business or work (180501: Travel related to working)
Selling items at a craft exhibit (180503: Travel related to income-generating activities)
School trip (180601: Travel related to taking class)
School (non-sport) extracurricular event (180602: Travel related to extracurricular activities (except sports))
Shopping (180704: Travel related to shopping, e.g. groceries, food, and gas)

To look at properties / looking for a new house (180806: Travel related to using real estate services)
Marching in a political rally (181002: Travel related to civic obligations and participation)
Visiting others / To see family or friends (181201: Travel related to socializing and communicating)
Attending graduation ceremony / retirement party / baby shower / other parties, ceremonies, or receptions (181202: Travel related to attending or hosting social events)
Attending a conference or convention (no M, O, or V in summary question fields) (181202: Travel related to attending or hosting social events)
Vacation, Fun, holiday (181203: Travel related to relaxing and leisure)
Participating in basketball tournament, golf trip, ski trip, other sport-related event or travel (181301: Travel related to participating in sports, exercise, recreation)
Attending a baptism, christening, bat or bar mitzvah, wedding, other religious ceremony, attending religious retreat (181401: Travel related to religious or spiritual activities)
Chaperoning my son's school trip (V) (181501: Travel related to volunteering)

Waiting for a bus, flight, ride, train, other mode of transit

2012+: If the respondent reports waiting for a bus/flight/ride/train or other mode of transit followed by a nontravel activity, then use the activity directly before the waiting episode and the activities after the waiting episode to determine the appropriate activity code for the waiting episode. (Added: July 2012).
  • If the activity directly preceding the waiting episode is a travel activity, then assign the waiting activity the same travel code as the preceding activity. For example, in the activity sequence walking to bus stop/waiting for bus/talking to someone at bus stop, waiting for bus would be assigned the same travel code as walking to bus stop.
  • If waiting for [mode of transit] is directly preceded and followed by nontravel episodes then assign waiting for [mode of transit] the same activity code as the next travel activity in the diary. If there are no subsequent travel activities in the diary, assign code 189999 Traveling, n.e.c. For example, in the activity sequence talking to someone at bus stop/waiting for bus/reading newspaper for pers int/riding bus to work), waiting for bus would be assigned the same code as riding bus to work.