Impact of perceptons of bus service performance on mode choice preference

Hu, Zhao, and Wang, 2015, in Advances in Mechanical Engineering

doi:10.1177/1687814015573826
Location Nanjing, China
Population Other (specify)
Sample size 958
Factor analysis type structural equation model, nan rotation
Stepwise regression no
Removal of insignificant variables yes
Reviewed by MWC

Abstract

As transit service performance should be considered from the transit passengers' perspectives, it is essential to determine passengers' perceptions of service performance and to understand the role of these perceptions in travel decisions. As the bus market share has steadily declined, the aim of this study is to explore the impact of perceptions of bus service performance on mode choice preference to increase bus ridership. To achieve this research objective, an intention survey is conducted to obtain bus passengers' attitudes. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis are used to measure passengers' perceptions and to extract the main factors from the bus service attributes. Next, structural equation modeling is used to reveal how passengers' perceptions vary by demographics and trip characteristics. Finally, multinomial logit modeling is used to explore the impact of perception factors on mode choice preference. The results of this study show that perceptions of the reliability and comfort of bus services have a more significant impact on passengers' mode choice preference than perceptions of availability and safety do. The implications in terms of improving bus service reliability and comfort can increase bus ridership. © The Author(s) 2015.

Factors

Variable Pattern loading
Easy-to-access bus stops (Convenience) 1
Easy to transfer and connect (Convenience) 1.23
Route layout (Convenience) 1.24
Ticket price (Cost) 0.73
Convenience of payment (Convenience) 0.8
Variable Pattern loading
Supply of awnings and seats at bus stops (Comfort) 1
Cleanliness of bus stops (Comfort) 1.23
Cleanliness of vehicles (Comfort) 1.27
Ability to find seats in the vehicle (Comfort) 0.99
Inside odor and temperature of the vehicle (Comfort) 1.11
Variable Pattern loading
Waiting time (Convenience) 1
Transfer waiting time (Convenience) 1.37
Service frequency (Convenience) 1.33
Information provision at bus stops (Convenience) 1.19
Travel speed (Convenience) 1.29
Variable Pattern loading
Stability of boarding and disembarking (Safety) 1
Smoothness of ride (Comfort) 1.07
Number of stops on bus route (Convenience) 0.94
Safety (of bus) and security on the way (Safety) 1.06
Bus driver's behavior (Safety) 0.9

Models

Dependent variable Stated mode choice for a trip of 5km
Model type multinomial logit
Sample size 958.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC nan
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence -536.44
Bus
Variable Coefficient p-value
Availability (of bus) 0.4 <0.01
Safety (of bus) 0.31 <0.05
Private car
Variable Coefficient p-value
Availability (of bus) -0.22 <0.1
Comfort (of bus) -0.33 <0.05
Subway
Variable Coefficient p-value
Reliability (of bus) -0.18 <0.05
Dependent variable Stated mode choice for a trip of 10km
Model type multinomial logit
Sample size 958.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC nan
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence -720.33
Bus
Variable Coefficient p-value
Comfort (of bus) 0.26 <0.05
Private car
Variable Coefficient p-value
Reliability (of bus) -0.12 <0.1
Subway
Variable Coefficient p-value
Reliability (of bus) -0.36 <0.05
Comfort (of bus) -0.36 <0.05
Dependent variable Stated mode choice for a trip of 15km
Model type multinomial logit
Sample size 958.0
R2 nan
Adjusted R2
Pseudo R2 (nan) nan
AIC nan
BIC nan
Log-likelihood at zero nan
Log-likelihood at constants nan
Log-likelihood at convergence 674.46
Bus
Variable Coefficient p-value
Comfort (of bus) 0.44 <0.01
Private car
Variable Coefficient p-value
No variables presented nan nan
Subway
Variable Coefficient p-value
Reliability (of bus) -0.09 <0.1
Comfort (of bus) -0.21 <0.05
Source variable Target variable Effect p-value Effect type
Gender Availability (of bus) 0.08 <0.05 direct_effect
Gender Reliability (of bus) 0.04 <0.1 direct_effect
Age Availability (of bus) 0.15 <0.05 direct_effect
Age Safety (of bus) 0.07 <0.1 direct_effect
Income Safety (of bus) 0.03 <0.01 direct_effect
Income Comfort (of bus) 0.01 <0.1 direct_effect
Trip purpose Reliability (of bus) 0.02 <0.1 direct_effect
Reported frequency of taking bus Availability (of bus) 0.03 <0.05 direct_effect
Reported frequency of taking bus Reliability (of bus) 0.04 <0.01 direct_effect
Reported frequency of taking bus Safety (of bus) 0.06 <0.01 direct_effect
Reported frequency of taking bus Comfort (of bus) 0.06 <0.01 direct_effect
Distance between bus stops and home Availability (of bus) 0.15 <0.01 direct_effect
Distance between bus stops and home Safety (of bus) 0.06 <0.1 direct_effect
Distance between bus stops and home Comfort (of bus) 0.03 <0.1 direct_effect
Availability (of bus) of alternative mode for bus trip Availability (of bus) -0.26 <0.01 direct_effect
Availability (of bus) of alternative mode for bus trip Reliability (of bus) -0.13 <0.01 direct_effect
Availability (of bus) of alternative mode for bus trip Safety (of bus) -0.13 <0.01 direct_effect
Availability (of bus) of alternative mode for bus trip Comfort (of bus) -0.09 <0.01 direct_effect

The Attitudes and Travel Database is produced with support from the Center for Teaching Old Models New Tricks at Arizona State University, a University Transportation Center sponsored by the US Department of Transportation through Grant No. 69A3551747116.

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