Determinants Of Mode Choice Research Articles

Mode Choice and Value of Time on Long-Distance Vacation Trips

Long-distance travel for leisure purposes, especially international travel, has grown dramatically over the past decades. Although its share of the total number of trips is small, it accounts for a significantly larger share of total distance and greenhouse gas emissions, with the accompanying adverse environmental consequences. One remedy might be to urge tourists to travel on vacation by rail rather than car, which is less harmful to the environment. However, it is not clear how to persuade them to do so, since knowledge of the determinants of mode choice for international vacation travel is quite limited. To fill this gap, we collected survey data among tourists, mostly international, visiting the Austrian Alps and estimated a choice model between personal vehicle and rail. The results revealed a cost dumping effect, and the significant influence of factors related to overall travel convenience, luggage transport, travel party size, and the accessibility of the destination by rail. The tourists reacted with little elasticity to changes in cost and travel time, and exhibited a higher value of time than in other studies on long-distance travel, which was also higher than the hourly wage in their home countries. This article delivers valuable evidence that could contribute to improved long-distance rail services, more accurate project appraisals, and better marketing campaigns and transportation policies to make rail more competitive against the personal vehicle, and facilitate more sustainable vacation travel.

Factors influencing mode choice of adults with travel-limiting disability

IntroductionDespite the plethora of research devoted to analyzing the impact of disability on travel behavior, not enough studies have investigated the varying impact of social and environmental factors on the mode choice of people with disabilities that restrict their ability to use transportation modes efficiently. This research gap can be addressed by investigating the factors influencing the mode choice behavior of people with travel-limiting disabilities, which can inform the development of accessible and sustainable transportation systems. Additionally, such studies can provide insights into the social and economic barriers faced by this population group, which can help policymakers to promote social inclusion and equity. MethodThis study utilized a Random Parameters Logit model to identify the individual, trip, and environmental factors that influence mode selection among people with travel-limiting disabilities. Using the 2017 National Household Travel Survey data for New York State, which included information on respondents with travel-limiting disabilities, the analysis focused on a sample of 8,016 people. In addition, climate data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were integrated as additional explanatory variables in the modeling process. ResultsThe results revealed that people with disabilities may be inclined to travel longer distances walking in the absence of suitable accommodation facilities for other transportation modes. Furthermore, people were less inclined to walk during summer and winter, indicating a need to consider weather conditions as a significant determinant of mode choice. Moreover, low-income people with disabilities were more likely to rely on public transport or walking. ConclusionBased on this study's findings, transportation agencies could design infrastructure and plan for future expansions that is more inclusive and accessible, thus catering to the mobility needs of people with travel-limiting disabilities.

The optimum strategy for mode choice modelling of interregional fish transport considering shippers' heterogeneity

The determinants of mode choice of interregional transport of fish, which is highly perishable, vastly differ from that of other commodities. These determinants are to be identified to improve transport efficiency. A questionnaire survey of shippers is used to collect the data. Highly correlated observed variables are combined to form four latent factors by factor analysis to reduce the errors in modelling. Logical relations among the component variables of latent factors are perceived, and mathematical formulations are used to estimate new variables. It is found that transportation costs and shipment weight contributes to factor 1, while distance contributes to factor 2. However, transportation costs are associated with distance and shipment weight. Thus, the variable, transportation cost per q-km, is estimated. Survey respondents' attitudes are also incorporated into modelling by including qualitative factors obtained by the factor analysis of shippers' preference ratings. A latent class analysis confirmed the existence of heterogeneity among ship-pers. Misrepresentations of effects occur in modelling if the heterogeneity in the data is not considered. No studies have found the best combination of observed variables, latent factors, estimated variables, and qualitative factors, consider-ing shippers' heterogeneity in freight mode choice. Hence, this study is done to find the optimum modelling strategy. Modelling revealed that models built with estimated variables outperformed those built with latent factors. Including qualitative factors along with observed variables and estimated variables showed further improvement. However, the model that includes observed variables, estimated variables, and qualitative factors considering shippers' heterogenei-ty is the best. It was found that the mode selection behaviour of different latent classes of shippers is distinct. A mode shift from road to rail could be achieved by lowering transportation costs and increasing speed, reliability, and safety for fish transport. Expanding roll on–roll off facilities, dedicated freight corridors, parcel trains, refrigerated contain-ers, and piecemeal service by rail promote a mode shift from road to rail and reduce energy usage.

Perceived disadvantages or motorized vehicle use habit? Investigating obstacles in bicycle use among adolescents in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

It is well known that the choice of travel mode decision is highly influenced by users’ perceptions of those travel modes. However, habitual behavior also acts as the primary determinant of mode choice, either complementary or as a substitute for perception factors. This study aimed to analyze how perception factors and habits influence cycling frequency among adolescents. The effect of socio-demographics (gender and age) and household characteristics (number of car and motorcycle ownerships and family members) on cycling frequency was also considered in this study. The analyses were based on 432 school students aged 13–18 years in Yogyakarta. The model results revealed two main determinants influencing the perceived disadvantages of cycling among adolescents. The first is related to the environment and constraints, and the second to cycling attitudes. However, the results revealed that rather than perceived disadvantages, habitual behaviors determine the cycling frequency for adolescents’ school commute. With regards to respondents’ characteristics and their households, boys and adolescents living in households with less car ownerships tend to cycle to school more often. Furthermore, attitude-related perceived disadvantages of cycling were affected by socio-demographic factors, such as age, gender, and number of cars and family members. However, only gender and car ownership substantially influenced the environment and constraints-related perceived disadvantages of cycling. Based on the findings of this study, policy recommendations were proposed to increase bicycle use for school trips among adolescents.

Intrinsic mode choice determinants based on a descriptive analysis of the perceptions of Abuja commuters: towards refocusing the societal mind-set on environmentally sustainable modes choice

PurposeThis paper sought to uncover the intrinsic determinants of the choice of transport modes in Nigeria's capital city, Abuja, based on commuters' perceptions on different modes of transport. The ultimate goal of the study was to come up with suitable multifaceted measures to deter private car usage, while refocusing society's mind-set towards alternative forms of transport, thereby keying into some transport-related sustainable development goals (SDG) goals.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted qualitative methods: 320 commuters were surveyed at bus stops and car parks around the city, and respondents were identified using multistage sampling, aided by purposive/convenience sampling, and this number was reached by saturation of themes. Focus group discussions were held with eight screened public officials from relevant (transportation and environment related) agencies/unions in the city. NVivo 10 software was used to thematically analyse the data gathered from a relativist and an interpretive stand point.FindingsThe study found transport mode choice to be intrinsically more motivated by socio-economic forces serving as a basis for other socio-psychological factors. Multifaceted measures, including spatial, socio-economic, environmental and public relation measures, were found suitable to break car-use motives in the study area towards adopting alternative modes of transport, thereby achieving some transport-related SDG targets.Originality/valueThe study was unique as it looked at the intrinsic mode choice determinants from a Sub-Saharan African capital city perspective and provided suitable multifaceted best practiced measures that deemphasised car use while emphasising alternative modes, thereby shifting commuters' mind-set towards environmentally sustainable modes of transport.

Mode choice in commuting and the built environment in México City. Is there a chance for non-motorized travel?

Non-motorized transportation (NMT) has emerged as a mitigating alternative for the negative externalities of motorized travel. This research presents an overview of the intra-metropolitan geography of transportation mode choice in the journey to work in the México City Metropolitan Area (MCMA), which can be seen as a representation of the huge socioeconomic inequalities typical of the Global South. The regression model applied showed that, as expected, socioeconomic variables were strong determinants of mode choice. An increase in age, as well as lower categories of socioeconomic class and educational attainment, were associated with the use of transit and non-motorized travel. Other factors positively associated with bike use were distance to the center, density of mass-transit systems stations, street intersection density, and the flat surface. The pattern of walk commuting with respect to the city center followed a u-shaped curve, while factors significantly positively associated were female, population density, the jobs-housing ratio at the origin, and the density of mass-transit systems stations. The paper concludes with a discussion of the research implications to leverage public policy efforts to promote NMT.

Active mobility in an Italian city: Mode choice determinants and attitudes before and during the Covid-19 emergency

The paper investigates the choice of the transport mode to access the city center of Trieste, Italy. We have collected revealed and stated choice data and attitudinal data in order to investigate the mode of transport used before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. We studied the main choice determinants jointly with respondents’ psychological attitudes using an integrated choice/latent variable modelling framework. The model incorporates choice data, generalized cost variables, random parameters, and latent variables. The latter capture the concern for the environment, both at global and local level, the attitudes towards physical exercise and the Covid-19-related risks. The model is applied to assess the impact of extending the density of the cycling lanes on active mobility. Our estimates indicate a potential increase in cycling which, however, would not translate into an increase in active mobility, since the bike would substitute some trips currently made by foot. We also detect a high substitutability between the bike and the bus, while the motorcycle and the car are much less affected. It is confirmed that the Covid-19 pandemic altered significantly the transport mode choices, having a strong negative impact on bus and shifting bus users towards private modes, both motorized and non-motorized.

Informal, formal, or both? Assessing the drivers of home care utilization in Austria using a simultaneous decision framework

ABSTRACT Understanding the relationship between different modes of home care for the elderly and the determinants of mode choice is fundamental for an efficient care policy in ageing societies. However, empirical research on this issue has revealed that policy conclusions will depend on both national and methodological factors. Using data for Austria from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, the purpose of the present paper is twofold: First, at least to our knowledge, it is the first comprehensive assessment of this kind for Austria. Second, it adds to the literature explicitly focusing on the combined use of informal and formal care in addition to the exclusive use of these services based on an econometric framework accounting for the simultaneity and interdependence between these modes. Our results provide strong evidence for a task-specific and complementary relation of formal and informal home care in Austria, with the health status and functional limitations as the main determinants of home care choice.

Time Available at Destination: Tool to Evaluate the Quality of Public Transport Service and a Determinant of Mode Choice

Service quality in relation to frequency, availability, and accessibility is an important issue for the various stakeholders involved in high-speed rail (HSR) projects. The concept of accessibility provides the means to build relevant indicators likely to evaluate the service quality in studies of transportation supply and demand. In this paper, indicators of time available at destination (TAD) are used to measure changes in service quality in rail and air travel between Paris and Bordeaux, France. Furthermore, the paper shows for the first time that TAD is a determining factor in explaining the air-train mode choice.

Cycling or walking? Determinants of mode choice in the Netherlands

Interest into active modes (i.e. walking and cycling) has increased significantly over the past decades, with governments worldwide ultimately aiming for a modal shift towards active modes. To devise policies that promote this goal, understanding the determinants that influence the choice for an active mode is essential. The Netherlands is country with a large and demographically diverse active mode user population, mature and complete active mode infrastructure, and safe environment. Mode choice research from the Netherlands enables a comparison on relevant determinants with countries that have a low active mode share. Furthermore, it can provide quantitative input for policies aiming at an active mode shift. This paper estimates a mode choice model focusing on active modes, while including a more comprehensive set of modes (i.e. walking, cycling, public transport and car). Based on data from the Netherlands Mobility Panel (MPN) in combination with an additional survey focused on active modes (coined PAW-AM), this study estimates which determinants influence mode choice. The determinants can be categorized as individual characteristics, household characteristics, season and weather characteristics, trip characteristics, built environment, and work conditions. The results show that all categories of determinants influence both walking and cycling. However, the choice for cycling or walking is affected by different determinants and to a different extent. In addition, no active mode nest was found in the model estimation. Cycling and walking should thus be regarded as two distinguished alternatives. Furthermore, the results show that active mode use is most sensitive to changes in the trip characteristics and the built environment.

2268 - Estimating the Determinants of Cycling: From Area to Road Network Levels

Background It is important to model the determinants of mode choice for many health-related reasons: to find-out what is holding people back from healthy active travel choices, to understand the drivers of detrimental car dependency, and to identify the causal factors over which public authorities have some control. Another motivation is that model results could feed into forecasts of behaviour change following specific interventions. Numerous papers have explored the issue but few have been able to provide results that can feed-into models forecasting uptake following local interventions for a number of reasons including small sample size, lack of a temporal component, and use of explanatory variables that cannot easily be applied beyond the case study region. This gap in the literature was identified and tackled as part of a UK Department for Transport funded project to develop a Cycling Infrastructure Prioritisation Toolkit (CyIPT). Methods Origin-destination (OD) data on commuter mode choice was obtained from the 2001 and 2011 Census. The data was processed to ensure that the 2001 data, which was provided at a different geographic level, as compatible with the 2011 data. It was further processed to create a dependent variable (cycling uptake) and explanatory variables including environmental (e.g. length of off-road cycle infrastructure) and demographic (e.g. age and gender splits) factors, for each desire-line. A model was developed to explain cycling uptake as a function of the explanatory variables and forecast future uptake following simulated interventions. Results Preliminary results show a clear infrastructure signal in the noise surrounding mode choice but other factors seem to be at play. Further research over the coming months will seek to improve the model and our resulting ability to forecast uptake at the local level from specific interventions. Conclusions Newly available data, combined with emerging high performance and open source statistical software, mean that large natural experiments on the impact of new infrastructure on mode choice can now be performed at the national level using geographically detailed data at the origin-destination level. This has the potential to make the prioritisation of new infrastructure much more evidence-based and holds the promise of allowing a-priori benefit-cost estimates to be automated to support transport planners to enable a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and towards healthy travel patterns across the world, in urban and rural areas alike.

PARAMETER PENENTU PENGGUNAAN TRANSPORTASI UMUM DI PERKOTAAN PATI

The research aims to analyze and assess determining parameters for public transportation usage for choice user group among the labours that work in Pati Urban Area; therefor the most dominant parameters will be known. User satisfaction recently used in public transportation researches and widely believed as determinant of mode choice. This research is using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) Analysis with 150 sampels of Pati Urban Area labours (including public servant and private workers) choosen by purposive sampling technique. The findings of the reasearh are : connectivity, accessibility and service quality have positive and significant impact toward user disatisfaction and user disatisfaction influences traveller behaviour to unuse public transportation services, while influence of travel cost couldn’t be explained and estimated. Finally, answering the research question, research reveals that connectivity’s parameters (0,563 influence rate), i.e waiting time, desireable arrival schedule and travel time, are the most dominant to determine public transportation usage with accessibility’s parameters (0,462) at the next ranking. At the lower rangking but also significant are service quality’s parameters with 0,451 influence rate.

What drives sustainable student travel? Mode choice determinants in the Greater Toronto Area

ABSTRACTExamination of mode choice behavior is an important step in accurately predicting future travel demand. Despite having somewhat unique travel needs and challenges, there is a lack of knowledge in understanding the mode use behavior of university student population. The existing studies on university populations relied on a relatively smaller sample in investigating the behavior. Therefore, using world's largest university student's travel database, this study examines the factors affecting the mode choice behavior of a diverse university student population with student samples from four universities and their seven campuses located across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Canada. Additionally, stratifying this diverse population using their attitudinal responses towards numerous travel modes, this study also estimates three additional mode choice models to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of how students in different markets, with different latent attitudes towards transportation, vary in terms of sustainable mode choice. A cluster analysis based on fourteen attitudinal responses, was conducted to stratify the sample whereas the popular multinomial logit approach was used to estimate the mode choice models. This study finds transit pass and bike ownership as important determinants that govern sustainable mode choice among the students in the region. The findings of this study could facilitate the sustainability offices at the four universities in making an informed policy decision in shifting the mode use behavior of students towards sustainable modes.

Spatial and socio-demographic determinants of South East Queensland students’ school cycling

The low prevalence of Australian students’ utilitarian school cycling could be attributed to the varied and context specific demographic, socio-economic and spatial school travel mode choice determinants. Travel distance is universally important for school cycling and is reliant amongst related home and school spatial proximity factors on a student’s choice of schools. This paper, primarily based on school students’ travel data extracted from the 2009 South East Queensland Household Travel Survey (SEQHTS), examines comparative school cycling travel patterns, school catchment choices and the significant analytical determinants of cycling mode choices from within an urban regional Australian context. Students’ choice of a school external to that located within their designated State school catchment zone was associated with household attributes of parent/guardian employment location, number of income earners and ownership of private vehicles coupled with State school and catchment attributes. Noteworthy variations in school travel distances and modal splits were allied with school catchment choices. Adolescent male students from two parent households owning fewer than two cars and more than two bicycles, with parents/guardians commuting using non-motorised travel modes and resident in Census Collection Districts with conducive cycling environments, contributed largely to the one-way bi-directional primary and secondary school cycling mode shares. This prevalent student cyclist profile indicates the need for enhancements in student school cycling participation, through policies addressing both the spatial (built) and social environment which impact students’ personal and traffic safety coupled with utilitarian cycling image enhancements. Concerted efforts to bolster cycling amongst student segments with current low cycling participation inclusive of females, students from single parent households and those with adequate access to private motorised travel modes may be necessary to further enhance school cycling mode shares. The paper makes a case for individualised targeted travel interventions informed by segregated mode choice determinant analysis for respective primary and secondary school types and directions of school travel.

The determinants of mode choice for family visits – evidence from Dutch panel data

We use panel data to estimate multinomial logistic regressions for the effect of household composition, car ownership, distance between family members, and degree of urbanization on mode choice for family visits in the Netherlands. Based on Mundlak’s formulation our model accounts for unobserved heterogeneity and differentiates within-individual from between-individual variation. With respect to household composition, we find that living with a partner and having a child under six years old is negatively associated with the likelihood of using public transport for family visits. Number of children is not associated linearly with mode choice. Walking and cycling is mainly associated with distance between family members: the shorter the distance the higher the likelihood of using slow-modes instead of a car. Those travelling between areas of high degree of urbanization have a higher likelihood of using public transport relative to using cars. Car ownership is negatively associated with all other modes. Using a car for commuting is also found to be negatively associated with other modes for family visits.

Determinants of Mode Share over Time

Increasing public transit ridership is a goal for most transit agencies and plays a central role in many recent regional transportation plans. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of mode choice and their effects over time is important. This study sought to understand how accessibility to employment by public transit changes over time, and how this accessibility explains changes in transit use. With the use of linear regression analysis, the authors explored the influence of job accessibility, transport infrastructure, and social disadvantage on transit mode share for three job categories in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 2 years, 1996 and 2006. New transit infrastructure did not necessarily attract more transit commuters but was found to affect commuting to different job categories differently. Also, new highway infrastructure hampered transit mode share, regardless of job type. The aggregate all-jobs model was found to dilute some differences between the transit mode choices of people commuting to different job categories. Finally, increases in accessibility by transit were found to augment transit mode share, while people in more socially disadvantaged areas were more likely to commute by transit in any job category. This study reveals findings that may be of interest to land use and transportation planners working toward boosting regional transit ridership, while also attaining social equity goals.

Sustainable school commuting – understanding choices and identifying opportunities: A case study in Dublin, Ireland

Travel to primary or secondary school during term constitutes a significant portion of the early morning flows of people on a transport network within all developed nations. Where school commutes are made by private cars there can be a significant contribution to early morning traffic congestion and associated externalities, as well as missed opportunities in regards to benefits that would accrue from higher occupancy and non-motorised modes of travel. This paper considers the challenge of shifting primary school students away from private car drop offs (PCDOs) in a case study area where over 60% of primary school children are driven to school. The paper engages and analyses an array of recent census and transport specific data through econometric and GIS-based methodologies to update and understand the modal choice decision factors involved, and to identify appropriate opportunities for change which may thereafter be trialled, supported and developed. The authors identify distance to travel as the most significant determinant of mode choice, and furthermore, by utilising a blend of GIS and census data, identify 2km as a guiding ‘splitting line’ or threshold between the alternative modes of walking and using transit or other motorised modes. This guidance on a distance splitting line is not a rule, but can inform the tailoring of modal shift intervention strategies appropriate to the specific circumstances and current behavioural trends. Above 2km the paper finds that students rarely walk to school and offers an evidence based recommendation for specific school bus services or coordinated carpooling as part of the solution. Below 2km, a walking school bus can serve as a functional substitute to PCDOs and is identified as feasible for certain areas given the student densities and school locations. In both cases recent technological innovations can support change. The research further finds that low car ownership rates, students having siblings and living in safe areas encourage the use of substitutive modes over PCDOs. The analytical approach of the paper can be replicated and the full detail of the analysis can offer guidance for community coordinated actions and local authority interventions to support sustainable school travel outcomes.

Study on Determinant of Mode Choice based on Analysis on Median Exclusive Bus Lane Effects

최근 꾸준히 증가하고 있는 자동차 수요에 부응할 만한 도로의 건설 등 시설공급능력은 이미 한계점에 이르렀으며, 일반 시민들이 피부로 느끼는 가장 심각한 문제 중 하나로 도로교통 문제가 대두되고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 교통체계관리기법(Transportation System Management) 중 대중교통시설의 효율성을 높일 수 있는 방안인 중앙버스전용차로제를 대전광역시의 주요 간선도로인 계룡로(월평3~서대전4, 6.3km) 및 대덕대로(대덕대교4~계룡4, 2.6km)에 적용하여 미시적 시뮬레이션(VISSIM)을 통해 차로제별 효과분석을 실시하였다. 더불어 시뮬레이션 분석결과를 자가용 이용자에게 제시하여 대중교통수단인 버스로의 통행수단선택 전환에 영향을 주는 요인을 분석하였다. 시뮬레이션 분석결과에서는 가로변 버스전용차로제에서 중앙버스전용차로제로 전환하면서 일반차량들이 이용할 수 있는 차로가 감소하게 되어 일반차량의 통행에는 부정적인 영향이 나타났지만 버스의 통행에는 매우 긍정적인 영향이 나타났다. 이항로짓모형의 분석결과에서는 소득이 낮고 통행거리가 짧으며, 목적지의 주차가 용이하지 않을수록, 또한 중앙버스전용차로의 통행 경험이 있을수록 자가용 이용자가 버스로의 통행수단선택 전환에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 【Comparing to the constant-increasing number of vehicles, road facilities supply such as road construction has already reached the uppermost limit. As one of the most serious issues that the public would personally deal with every day, such is some road traffic problem to be solved instantly. Median exclusive bus lane is now being conducted as a way to enhance efficiency of the public transportation system in Transportation System Management, and with a main arterial that connects Kyeryong-ro (Wolpyeong 3~West Daejeon 4, 6.3km) and Daedeok-daero (Daedeok Bridge 4~Kyeryong 4, 2.6km) in Daejeon adopted as a research target, the study analyzed effects of the arterial by VISSIM the microsimulation. During the analysis, the study focused on figuring out effects of owner-drivers' transport mode choice to take a bus a public transit. According to the simulation results, as people take a bus at the median exclusive bus lane not crb bus lane, traffic for general vehicles has been negatively effected with less drive ways for the vehicles. However, when it comes to the bus traffic, the new transport mode choice appeared to have a quite positive influence after all. A binary logit model analysis reported that owner-drivers might take a bus more often when they earn lower incomes, when they do not travel far, when poor parking is expected and lastly, when they are familiar with using the median exclusive bus lane.】

Modeling the Relationship Between Travelers' Level of Satisfaction and Their Mode Choice Behavior Using Ordinal Models

Travelers' level of satisfaction is an important performance measure for transport service providers and a determinant of mode choice. However, its computation is not easy because of the complicated and unique characteristics of travelers. The traditional method of comparing yearly satisfaction percentages has been implemented in several places; however, it does not include the interrelationships between variables that determine satisfaction. This study estimates travelers' level of satisfaction using an ordered logit model and then uses the results in a binary mode choice model. The results show that the level of satisfaction has a significant influence on the modal choice characteristics of travelers.

Impact of Corporate Cultural Diversity on International Strategy

This paper addresses the issue of how three cultural factors i.e. cultural distance between countries, focal firm’s prior experience in host country culture, and firm-level cultural diversity affect firm's choice of international strategic combination mode between M&A and joint ventures. Rooted in organizational learning approach to internationalization, our model specifies firm-level cultural diversity as a key determinant of mode choice. Empirical support was found in a sample of U.S. firms.