PREDICTING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AMONG SUBURBAN COMMUTERS

Abstract

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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