ELASTICITY MEASURES OF BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE TO OFF-PEAK FREE-FARE TRANSIT

Changes in transit ridership behavior in response to the elimination of off-peak transit fares are examined. Empirically, the analysis is based on data collected for a one-year free-fare demonstration sponsored by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration in Trenton, New Jersey. Fare elasticity of demand is used as the measure of behavioral response. Important to the analysis is the clarification of distinctions among different measures of fare elasticity. In order to both illustrate the differences among types of elasticity and demonstrate the separate impact attributable to the choice of estimating technique, several techniques are applied and their results compared. It is concluded that the demand response to fare elimination is inelastic and that variations among individuals in the extent of response cannot be associated with differences in socioeconomic characteristics. Free fare is therefore judged not to be a direct means of fulfilling the transportation needs of socio-economically defined population groups. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/761/761-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ELASTICITY+MEASURES+OF+BEHAVIORAL+RESPONSE+TO+OFF-PEAK+FREE-FARE+TRANSIT&author=L.+Doxsey&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309031036
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development. 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.
• Authors:
  • Doxsey, Lawrence B
• Conference:
  • 59th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1980-1-21 to 1980-1-25
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 7-14
• Monograph Title: Public Transportation Planning
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 761
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demonstration projects; Elasticity (Mechanics); Fares; Free fares; Off peak periods; Public transit; Ridership; Socioeconomic factors
• Old TRIS Terms: Free transportation; Off-peak; Response
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331050
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309031036
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 28 1982 12:00AM