Abstract
Local transport systems in rural areas worldwide are facing significant challenges. In particular, increased car ownership and usage as well as broader socio-economic trends such as ageing populations and cuts in public spending are combining to threaten the bus – the traditional means by which people without cars have accessed the services that they need. Consequently, Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) systems have emerged in a bid to combine the benefits of bus-based and taxi-based services, to deliver a relatively cheap yet comprehensive level of public transport in low demand environments. Unfortunately, while attractive in principle, several barriers conspire to limit the effectiveness of such services in practice.This paper therefore investigates how individual level factors influence the use of DRT systems in rural Lincolnshire in England by applying an ordered logit model to a survey of DRT users in the county. The analysis shows that those who are disabled, travelling for work, or live in less densely populated areas are likely to travel more frequently by DRT. Men are found to travel less frequently than women when they are below pension age. However there are no significant gender differences once they reach retirement age. This highlights an emerging market potential from the retired male market segment. The implications for policy include recommendations that DRT systems should be designed to cater for such market segments through both traditional channels and through further engagement with employers.
Highlights
Local transport systems worldwide are facing significant challenges, many of which relate to the private car
In the case of the UK, one major impact of rising car ownership and use in rural areas has been that the financial viability of ‘conventional’ bus services – which until now have been a key instrument in enabling those who remain without a car to access services – has been threatened in two ways
From previous work it is clear that females were expected to use Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) more than males (Nelson and Phonphitakchai, 2012; Mageean and Nelson, 2003; Bearse et al, 2004), and that the average age of users is usually higher than the population as a whole (TCRP, 1995, 2004a,b; Nelson and Phonphitakchai, 2012; Laws, 2009; Mageean and Nelson, 2003)
Summary
Local transport systems worldwide are facing significant challenges, many of which relate to the private car. Whilst increasing car ownership and use has obviously delivered significant benefits to individuals, at the societal level it has led to an array of economic, social and environmental impacts which require the attention of policy makers In this regard, it should be noted that rural areas face a number of distinct challenges. In the case of the UK, one major impact of rising car ownership and use in rural areas has been that the financial viability of ‘conventional’ bus services – which until now have been a key instrument in enabling those who remain without a car to access services – has been threatened in two ways This has been done by directly reducing the demand for the bus and second, by contributing to more dispersed development patterns which affect the bus operating context. Conclusions are drawn, and implications for policy makers and practitioners inferred
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