Student Commuters Research Articles

Assessment of the Transportation and Mobility Impacts of Santa Rosa Bridge Rehabilitation on Student Commuters

This study assessed the transportation and mobility impacts of the Santa Rosa Bridge rehabilitation on student commuters, focusing on how this infrastructure project affects their daily travel experiences. The study employs a descriptive-comparative methodology, gathering data from 117 student commuters through a researcher-made questionnaire distributed online. Results reveal a significant increase in travel time, with more students experiencing delays of 1-2 hours or more. Additionally, the rehabilitation has led to decreased satisfaction with available transportation options and overall commuting experiences, as evidenced by a decline in weighted mean scores across all transportation and mobility constructs. The study concludes that the rehabilitation project has adversely affected student commuters, disrupting their routines and reducing the reliability of their commutes. These findings highlights the need for proactive measures, such as alternative transportation options or temporary shuttle services, to mitigate the impact on student mobility during infrastructure projects.

Student Commuters’ Perceived Level of Stress

This study, conducted during the academic year 2023-2024 at the University of Cebu Main Campus, aimed to establish the student commuters’ perceived level of stress among the currently enrolled students in the institution. Using a sample size application generator ,150 students were carefully selected from the population. The Descriptive Correlational Method was employed to seek the connection between the perceived level of stress and different variables, with a focus on these students who might be susceptible to commuting related stress. The study employed a researcher-made survey questionnaire consisting of forty (40) items on a four-point Likert scale (from Not Stressful at all to Very Stressful) and conducted a pilot test to ensure questionnaire’s internal consistency and reliability. Data were collected via face-to-face interaction, and chi-square test was utilized to know if significant relationship was established between the profile of the respondents and their perceived level of stress. Also, Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine whether there is a significant difference in the respondents' reported stress level when grouped by profile. The results revealed that students' perceived level of stress was so high (very stressful), with no significant relationships between the perceived level of stress and the profile such as sex, age, department. However, a significant difference was found between respondents' perceived level of stress among different year levels. This study highlights the need for supportive measures to enhance the respondent’s well-being and mitigate the perceived level of stress they have experienced.

Assessment of PM2.5 Concentration at University Transit Bus Stops Using Low-Cost Aerosol Monitors by Student Commuters.

Particulate matter of 2.5 µm and smaller (PM2.5) is known to cause many respiratory health problems, such as asthma and heart disease. A primary source of PM2.5 is emissions from cars, trucks, and buses. Emissions from university transit bus systems could create zones of high PM2.5 concentration at their bus stops. This work recruited seven university students who regularly utilized the transit system to use a low-cost personal aerosol monitor (AirBeam) each time they arrived at a campus bus stop. Each participant measured PM2.5 concentrations every time they were at a transit-served bus stop over four weeks. PM2.5 concentration data from the AirBeam were compared with an ADR-1500 high-cost monitor and EPA PM2.5 reference measurements. This methodology allowed for identifying higher-than-average concentration zones at the transit bus stops compared to average measurements for the county. By increasing access to microenvironmental data, this project can contribute to public health efforts of personal protection and prevention by allowing individuals to measure and understand their exposure to PM2.5 at the bus stop. This work can also aid commuters, especially those with pre-existing conditions who use public transportation, in making more informed health decisions and better protecting themselves against new or worsening respiratory conditions.

Spatio Temporal Variations of Ridehailing Use on Campus Travel in Surabaya City, Indonesia

Surabaya, one of Indonesia’s most densely populated cities, faces the challenge of massive urbanization and heavy traffic congestion. The city’s population of over three million, coupled with high mobility, has led to a surge in motorized vehicles, especially private cars. This is a direct consequence of the growth and development of the city. The prevalence of ride-hailing services in Surabaya has emerged as a common phenomenon, offering a solution to the rising demand for transportation services. By embracing ride-hailing services, the public has transitioned from traditional modes of transportation to digitally enabled, more convenient alternatives. From a spatial perspective, understanding the role of geographical factors is crucial in predicting ride-hailing trends. This research employs the Geographical Weighted Regression (GWR) method to analyze the factors influencing ride-hailing demand for students commuting to and from their campuses during different periods. Primary data collection is conducted through questionnaires to gather information about travel characteristics such as distance, time, cost, and frequency. Secondary data sources include data related to road density (arterial, collector, local roads), density, destination accessibility, diversity (land-use mix entropy), and transit access (bus stops and stations). The findings reveal significant variables influencing variations in ride-hailing demand for student commuters in Surabaya based on periods. These include travel characteristics (cost/time/distance), design (neighborhood road density), destination accessibility (tourist attractions, sports and leisure facilities, cultural and educational services, and commercial, and residential density), as well as transit access at bus stops and stations.

Student Commuters’ Challenges and Initiatives in Travelling to and from Caraga State University

Student Commuters’ Challenges and Initiatives in Travelling to and from Caraga State University

Determinants of Accident Status on Student Commuters of Jabodetabek in 2019

Traffic accidents among students are one of the problems experienced in the Greater Jakarta area. World Health Organization (WHO) stated that younger drivers are the most vulnerable group to experiencing traffic accidents, including the students. According to Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), it was estimated that as many as 301,120 Jabodetabek commuters had experienced a traffic accident in 2019. Moreover, 13 to 14 out of the 100 commuters who had experienced traffic accidents are student commuters or commuters with the main activities going to school. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the factors that affect the accident status of Jabodetabek student commuters in 2019 and their odds ratios by using the 2019 Jabodetabek Commuter Survey data. The analytical method used is a binary logistic regression with the parameter estimation method using penalized maximum likelihood estimation (PMLE). And the results showed that the variables of age, gender, last education, mode of transportation, classification of the area of residence, distance traveled, and the area of the activity had a significant influence on the accident status of Jabodetabek student commuters. Furthermore, student commuters who live in rural areas have the highest tendency to experience a traffic accident.

Digital nomadism: students experience of using mobile devices in Delhi Metro

PurposeTravel time is considered as the wastage of time, but the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices with Internet has made it possible to use the time for productive activities. This paper aims to focus primarily on the use of mobile devices while travelling in Metrorail and how travel time is being used “productively” as study time and what resources are the students accessing from their mobile devices. In total, 820 students from different colleges in Delhi were randomly chosen for the survey. Using the survey method, the paper explores how students use travel time productively as activity time. The study revealed that browsing internet, communication, text messaging, accessing social media, etc., are the frequent activities by students while travelling. Majority of respondents stated that their travel time is never productive for value of time. Thinking on different issues that occupy their mind is the most frequent personal activity. “Poor Wi-Fi” connectivity is the highly rated impediment faced by students for uses of mobile devices.Design/methodology/approachA survey was administered to students of different colleges in Delhi who commute daily and consume information while commuting to colleges and back in the month of November and December 2017. The Yellow line that connects most of the colleges of Delhi University was boarded during early and evening hours; a questionnaire was handed out and collected back during the travel. Moreover, a visit was made to different colleges and universities of Delhi. Of the 1,000 questionnaires, only 820 were returned (a response rate of 82%); so a good number of student commuters’ population of Delhi was sampled.FindingsThe study found that majority of the students that responded to the survey use smartphones while travelling. The study indicated that many students face different impediments in consuming the information of their need.Originality/valueThe paper provides insight of how travel time is used by the students in Delhi Metro and what activities they do on their miniature devices to make their travel time productive. The study will serve as a template for policy makers and information service providers to realize the need of the hour.

How commuters’ motivations to drive relate to propensity to carpool: Evidence from the United Kingdom and the United States

This paper examines how commuter motivations to drive relate to propensities to carpool, using two sequential studies: Study 1 determines the key dimensions of commuters’ motivations for driving using secondary data (N = 432) from staff and postgraduate student commuters at a United Kingdom university. We code the contents of the respondents’ self-reported reasons for driving (i.e. the instrumental rationalities attributed to driving with respect to varying purposes) to identify keywords representing motivation to drive; we then analyse the keyword data using multidimensional scaling (MDS). Study 2 examines how the dimensions discovered through study 1 relate to propensity to carpool, using structural equation modelling (SEM). Data for Study 2 are the survey responses of commuters (N = 1028) based in the United States. The MDS reveals four key dimensions of motivation to drive. These capture instrumental rationalities for driving within four situational domains which we term: (1) Family; (2) Public transport impractical changes; (3) Rigid schedule; and (4) Non-urban areas. The SEM results show that the regression coefficients on propensity to carpool of Public transport impractical changes and Rigid schedule are significant and negative; the Family domain has a positive but non-significant regression coefficient. Regarding demographics, men’s mean values on all four domain variables are significantly higher than those for women, except for the Family domain where the mean value for women is higher; meanwhile, age predicts decreasing propensity to carpool. Additionally, the situational domains of Public transport impractical changes, Rigid schedule and Non-urban areas significantly positively correlate. Consequently, overall, the results imply that addressing commuters’ instrumental rationalities for driving, namely increasing schedule flexibility and providing more direct or quicker public transport, could indirectly encourage commuters to carpool. The study makes an original contribution by estimating the causal relationship between commuters’ motivation to drive and propensity to carpool.

The Daily Grind: A Rhizomatic Approach to Narratives of Managing Commuter Stress During Traffic Congestion in Metro Manila

Robust literature on commuter stress has shown the multiple impact of daily commuting in people's lives. Framed within a rhizomatic approach to narratives, we analyzed stories of 11 working and 9 student Filipino commuters by looking at the ways they act on or reconstruct themselves to manage stress. In urban Metro Manila, our findings showed three narrative “stress entryways”: getting caught by the wave, seating privileges, and stuck in transit. Theoretical and practical implications of findings on commuter well-being (e.g., keeping emotions in, releasing tensions), technologies of the “fit” commuter, and enriching conversations in traffic psychology and urban living are discussed.

ViaggiaTrento: an application for collaborative sustainable mobility

In this paper we present a case study about the development and delivery of a mobile application fostering sustainable urban mobility by supporting collaborative behaviours among travellers. This application, called ViaggiaTrento, has been designed based on the requirements expressed by student commuters reflecting on their travelling experience with local transport in the city of Trento, Italy, and has then been fed back to this initial community and subsequently to the rest of citizens. A critical mass of users has been growing since then, with a relevant percentage of citizens downloading and positively rating ViaggiaTrento.

Exploring spatio-temporal commuting patterns in a university environment

Universities in small towns are often located so that amenities, stores, activities and housing are concentrated within a short distance from campus. Given this compactness between origins and destinations, bicycling and walking should be ideal modes of transportation among a university population. This research seeks to explore the spatial, temporal and gender differences in transportation modal choice among student commuters with an objective of uncovering incentives to increase the use of non-motorized or public transportation to the campus. Findings point to the availability of lower-cost parking permits as an enabler of shorter distance car commutes, especially in the winter season. Male students are found to be more likely to switch commuting modes throughout the year while females are generally more likely to drive. Differences in commuting choice behavior between students with children, and traditional undergraduate and graduate students are also found. Policy implications of the stated preference survey are discussed.

Alcohol Advertising at Boston Subway Stations: An Assessment of Exposure by Race and Socioeconomic Status

We investigated the frequency of alcohol ads at all 113 subway and streetcar stations in Boston and the patterns of community exposure stratified by race, socioeconomic status, and age. We assessed the extent of alcohol advertising at each station in May 2009. We measured gross impressions and gross rating points (GRPs) for the entire Greater Boston population and for Boston public school student commuters. We compared the frequency of alcohol advertising between neighborhoods with differing demographics. For the Greater Boston population, alcohol advertising at subway stations generated 109 GRPs on a typical day. For Boston public school students in grades 5 to 12, alcohol advertising at stations generated 134 GRPs. Advertising at stations in low-poverty neighborhoods generated 14.1 GRPs and at stations in high-poverty areas, 63.6 GRPs. Alcohol ads reach the equivalent of every adult in the Greater Boston region and the equivalent of every 5th- to 12th-grade public school student each day. More alcohol ads were displayed in stations in neighborhoods with high poverty rates than in stations in neighborhoods with low poverty rates.

The impacts of an air-crash on students’ transportation choice behaviour: An empirical study undertaken in Taiwan

Abstract This research’s objectives are to identify major factors influencing offshore student–commuters’ transportation mode-choice and to develop simple Logit choice models prior and post a major air disaster. The total trip time, trip cost, ease of access to a transportation mode, student–commuters’ household income, and the risk perceived by student–commuters using different transportation modes are found to have impacts on their mode-choice behaviour. Several logit model specifications were tested. The research reveals student–commuters’ transportation mode-choice behaviour significantly changed post the May 2002 Penghu air accident. Reduction in airfares (which most airlines used to promote their services after the air-crash) was less attractive to passengers than convincing them that airline services were safe. Therefore, any post-disaster airline marketing campaign aimed at student–commuters should change from reduced fare promotion to service safety promotion.

Analysis of Effects of Fare-Free Transit Program on Student Commuting Mode Shares: BruinGo at University of California at Los Angeles

Spring 2002 concluded the second year of the BruinGo pilot demonstration program of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). BruinGo allows students and employees of UCLA to board buses of the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines (Big Blue Bus) free of charge. At a time when the future of BruinGo is at stake (both its existence and the possible expansion of the program to other transit agencies), a brief analys is of what has been accomplished by the program at this stage is provided. The program is analyzed using two methods: ( a) the analysis of the changes in the commuting mode share for all off-campus student commuters and ( b) an intricate process of geocoding survey data in which the relationship of the proximity of a student’s residence to the Big Blue Bus lines and the corresponding choice of mode to campus is analyzed. The conclusion is that providing fare-free transit to students did, in fact, increase transit ridership and decrease students’ reliance on the automobile to reach campus. Transit ridership for 2001 (the first year of BruinGo) increased by more than 50% over ridership in 2000 (the year before BruinGo), while more than 1,000 fewer automobile trips were taken to the UCLA campus each day. Even more striking is the rate at which students are leaving their cars at home in the areas best served by the Big Blue Bus. After BruinGo, fully 50% of all students in walking distance of a direct line to campus took transit (compared with 35% before BruinGo). That is much higher than in other areas. The mode share of walking and bicycling also decreased dramatically, however.

Driving-induced stress in urban college students.

Urban college student commuters (N = 407) were surveyed about their experiences with stress induced by driving. Of the participants 23.6% reported becoming angry at another driver more than once per day. They rated stress from other drivers as equal to the stress experienced during a college examination but gave slightly lower ratings to traffic congestion, road construction, and finding a parking place as sources of stress. Slow drivers, a child not restrained, and a vehicle following too closely were the highest rated annoying situations. Of participants, 21.6% had reported another driver to the police; nearly 22% said they carried a weapon for protection from other drivers (5.4% said a gun). Men were more than twice as likely as women to carry a weapon and three times as likely to carry a gun. Of the total sample, 19.1% feared being shot by another driver. Most participants (75.8%) said drivers were more aggressive and dangerous than they were five years ago.

An analysis of parent-student relationships of university student commuters and non-commuters.

An analysis of parent-student relationships of university student commuters and non-commuters.