Because existing models have their limitations, there is a significant need for a model to estimate demand for intercity bus services, especially in rural areas. The general objective of this research was to develop an intercity mode choice model that can be incorporated into a statewide travel demand model to estimate demand for rural intercity bus services. Four intercity transportation modes were considered in the study: automobile, bus, rail, and air. A stated preference survey was conducted of individuals across the state of North Dakota, and a mixed logit model was developed to estimate a mode choice model. Results from the mode choice model showed the significant impacts of individual, trip, and mode characteristics on choice of mode. Gender, age, income, disability, trip purpose, party size, travel time, travel cost, and access distance were all found to have significant impacts on mode choice, and traveler attitudes were also found to be important. The study demonstrated how the mode choice model can be incorporated into a statewide travel demand model, and intercity bus mode shares were estimated for origin-destination pairs within the state. Alternative scenarios were analyzed to show how mode shares would change under different conditions or service characteristics. This study was conducted in the largely rural state of North Dakota, but results could be transferable to other areas with similar geographic characteristics. / U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)

Mobility is an undeniable issue for current and future elderly populations. The increasing popularity for retirees to live in rural communities makes this a particularly important issue in rural towns. When an elderly individual living in a rural community is no longer able to drive, issues that come with living in a rural area may be exacerbated, and the individual may experience a decrease in their quality of life. Although individuals may be able to use public transportation most existing options do not promote an independent lifestyle. Any updated rural transportation system benefiting the elderly would be funded by taxpayers. An understanding of the taxpayers' preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for transportation options, therefore, is essential. Few, if any economic studies have addressed this issue. The objectives of this research are to: (1) estimate economic willingness-to-pay (WTP) for public transportation options by using choice modeling techniques; and (2) better understand opinions related to public transportation for the elderly held by the general population as a whole and within different demographics. To complete these objectives, a choice survey was distributed to samples of three populations: residents of Atascosa County (located in south Texas); residents of Polk County (located in east Texas); and students at Texas A&M University. Respondents were presented with transportation options made of five attributes: addition to annual vehicle registration fee, days of operation, hours of operation, type of route, and senior citizen transportation fare discount. Results show both students and the general public value public transportation options and are willing to pay for specific transportation attributes. Respondents tended to prefer options which are more flexible than the less flexible attribute presented to them; however, respondents did not necessarily prefer the most flexible options. Students, generally, are willing to pay more for transportation attributes than county residents. Overall, both Atascosa and Polk County residents have similar WTP's, indicating both populations value rural public transportation similarly. The effects of socio-demographic variables on residents' decision to choose a transportation option appear to differ between the counties. These findings imply that while the influence of transportation attribute levels are consistent across counties, local input is important in customizing transportation systems to meet local expectations.

No description available.

The role transport plays in enabling people access to services is very important. However, transport for school going children in rural areas has not been given much attention. Transport programmes aimed at improving access to schools by rural children cannot be successful in their formation and implementation without the full participation of parents. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to learn about the factors influencing caregivers' choices of the modes of transport for their school going children and to establish how caregivers view the importance of transport for their school going children, particularly in rural areas. One hundred and twenty six respondents were interviewed in this study. Two focus group interviews were conducted with teachers from eZinyonyana Primary and Mthende High Schools. It transpired that the majority of children walk to school. Most parents are aware of the problems associated with walking. However, the majority of them did not believe that walking could impact on their children's performance at school. This belief, though, differed with parents who perceive themselves too distant from school, hence believing that walking can affect their children's performance at school. Also, the majority of caregivers from communities furthest from schools believed that the availability of transport could improve their children's performance at school. They expected the government to provide transport for learners as most of them felt that even if transport can be made available, they could not still afford it since they are not employed. Although aware of the dangers associated with walking, some parents did not feel they could accompany their children school. This task was entirely left with the older children who are supposed to look after the younger ones on their way to and from school. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

This report aims to study the difficulties when approaching accessibility and mobility challenges in rural areas and explore how rural areas might have been approached with urban methods. Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a renowned concept when addressing accessibility and mobility development in both rural and urban areas. Car ownership and habitual car use are topics that are relevant in the research fields of sustainable transportation and urban development and has shaped the development of MaaS methods. One question is if rural MaaS methods can be developed to fit an unique rural context more specifically.  To add knowledge about this a theoretical thematic analysis was made, based on four semi-structured interviews about how the interviewees perceive their accessibility, and reflections about their current situation in their settlement regarding accessibility. The results show that the settlements have both differences and resemblances regarding accessibility by bicycling, walking, car travel, and feeling of belongingness to their local community. One unexpected discovery is that the sense of belongingness and identity is correlated with the perceived accessibility to public and local services.  Finally, a suggestion for how to adapt MaaS to a rural area by using the data collected from the interviewees is presented with an example. The suggested method could be a tool to identify objectives and services that can be applied for every rural area by using Local Accessibility Index in combination with a categorization of the studied municipality. / Den här rapporten kommer studera utmaningarna med tillgänglighet och mobilitet på landsbygderna samt undersöka om det har tillämpats metoder på landsbygderna som från början var framtagna för stadsmiljöer. Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) är en erkänd metod för att angripa utmaningar med tillgänglighet och mobilitet i både land och stad. Bilägande och vardaglig bilanvändning är ämnesområden som är relevanta kring forskning om hållbart resande och stadsutveckling – och vilket har präglat utformningen av MaaS. Frågan uppstår huruvida tillämpningen av MaaS på landsbygderna kan utvecklas för att på ett mer specifikt sätt kunna anpassas till ett unikt område.  För att fylla kunskapsluckan genomfördes en teoretisk tematisk analys av fyra semi-strukturerade intervjuer för att undersöka hur de tillfrågade upplevde sin tillgänglighet samt för att höra deras reflektioner kring deras situation med avseende på tillgängligheten i sitt område. Resultatet visar på att de fyra olika personerna delar både likheter och olikheter när det kommer till tillgänglighet med cykel, via gång, och känsla av samhällsinkludering. Ett oväntat resultat var hur ens känsla av tillhörighet till regionen och till det offentliga hörde ihop med tillgänglighet till offentlig och lokal service.  Slutligen, presenteras ett förslag till metod med ett exempel för hur MaaS kan anpassas till ett landsbygdsområde genom att använda data från intervjuer. Den föreslagna metoden kan bli ett verktyg för att identifiera målsättningar och tjänster oavsett vilken plats det är som undersöks. Till detta används ett lokalt tillgänglighetsindex samt en kommunindelning.

PhDRDV / Institute for Rural Development