CHARACTERISTICS OF CAPTIVE AND CHOICE TRANSIT TRIPS IN THE PITTSBURGH METROPOLITAN AREA

THE CHARACTERISTICS ARE EXPLORED OF TWO GENERAL CLASSES OF TRANSIT TRIP MAKERS: THOSE WHO COMPRISE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE UNLINCENSED TO DRIVE OR LACK ACCESS TO A CAR, AND THOSE WHO COULD HAVE DRIVEN BUT CHOSE TRANSIT INSTEAD. THE EXPLORED CHARACTERISTICS ARE LIMITED TO THE DATA AVAILABLE FROM THE PITTSBURGH AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY HOME INTERVIEW SURVEY. THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF CHOICE TRIPS IS REPORTED BY RESIDENTS OF HOUSEHOLDS AT MIDDLE DISTANCES FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT KNOWING WHERE THE TRANSIT RIDER LIVES IS NO CRITERION AS TO WHETHER HE HAS CHOSEN TRANSIT OR IS A CAPTIVE RIDER. CHOICE TRIP MAKERS ARE PREDOMINANTLY MALE WHILE CAPTIVE TRIP MAKERS PREDOMINANTLY FEMALE. DIFFERENCES IN AGE, SEX, AND RACE BETWEEN CAPTIVE AND CHOICE TRIP MAKERS CAN BE RELATED TO DIFFERENCES IN OCCUPATION. CHOICE TRIP ORIGINS TEND TO BE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL TRANSIT TRIP ORIGINS IN THE INNER RINGS THAN IN THE OUTER RINGS. THE LONGER AVERAGE TRIP LENGTHS OF CHOICE TRIPS INSURE THAT DOOR- TO DOOR-SPEEDS WILL BE HIGHER THAN THOSE FOR ALL CAPTIVE TRIPS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT IT APPEARS THAT THE MOST PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT FOR LEAVING THE FAMILY CAR AT HOME IS THE DIFFICULTY AND EXPENSE OF DRIVING AND PARKING IN HIGHLY BUILT-UP DOWNTOWN AREAS. THESE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAPTIVE AND CHOICE TRIP MAKING SHOULD PROVE USEFUL IN ESTIMATING THE FUTURE POTENTIAL MARKET FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

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  • Supplemental Notes:
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  • Authors:
    • Keefer, Louis E
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 1962

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 24-33
  • Monograph Title: Trip characteristics and traffic assignment
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00227895
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Aug 15 2004 2:36AM