PREDICTING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AMONG SUBURBAN COMMUTERS
A survey of suburban commuters revealed that their interest in ridesharing and related transportation system management (TSM) strategies, other than flextime, was minimal. The disincentive of high parking costs did not appear to be sufficient to attract riders to standard transit services. Enhanced service, however, provided am important incentive for transit use, even when disincentives were comparatively low. Improvements in service, including express buses, reduced access time, and guaranteed seating, can induce automobile commuters to use alternative transit or paratransit. Moreover, decentralization of service from its downtown focus could open up a sizeable market for alternative transit both among carpoolers and solo drivers. Interest in alternative transit with improved service characteristics is directly related to commute time. Thus, increases in traffic congestion may stimulate demand for alternative transit, even at higher fares. The balance between service and fare that will optimize ridership can be easily deduced for various markets. Demand-response transit services appear to provide a feasible and profitable transit alternative, particularly if they are linked to a computerized, real-time, booking and dispatching network.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309050588
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1280, Transportation Management, HOV Systems, and Geometric Design and Effects 1990. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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Authors:
- McLeod Jr, M S
- McLeod Jr, Malcolm S
- Publication Date: 1990
Media Info
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: p. 73-81
- Monograph Title: Transportation management, HOV systems, and geometric design and effects 1990
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record
- Issue Number: 1280
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Commuters; Decentralization; Demand; Demand responsive transportation; Fares; Forecasting; Improvements; Incentives; Level of service; Public transit; Ridesharing; Suburbs; Transportation system management; Travel time
- Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00605581
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 0309050588
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Mar 31 1991 12:00AM