Application of Discrete Choice Experiment in Bus Transport

Travel needs in developing countries are largely served by bus transportation systems. But its poor quality has increased, with a resulting declining trend in commercial vehicle patronage. However, policy-makers and practitioners are constantly in search of solutions for improving commercial vehicle patronage, especially in urban areas of developing countries. This book sought to identify the knowledge of commuters about the characteristics of commercial vehicles that influence their choice and makes it attractive to private car users. It presents the preference estimates for various attributes that affect commercial vehicles choice from Circle bus station in Accra to Kumasi. A Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) and discrete choice modeling which is rooted in Random Utility Theory (RUT) was designed to capture the responses of a user sample when they have a mode of choice between commercial vehicles. This book provides a guide for policy-makers and transport operators in bus transport to improve commercial vehicle patronage in urban areas, not only for minimizing the usage of private cars and resulting road congestion, but also to safeguard the environment for community benefit.