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Public transport competitiveness vs. the car: Impact of relative journey time and service attributes

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  • Lunke, Erik B.
  • Fearnley, N.
  • Aarhaug, J.

Abstract

In order to give empirically based policy advice on public transport (PT) competitiveness, we have studied revealed mode choice for commuting trips. This has been done by combining data on mode choice from the Norwegian National Travel Survey (NTS) with evidence-based, as opposed to static level-of-service data, trip characteristics extracted from Google Maps’ travel planner. This combination enables us to explore the demand and market effects of relative travel times and other non-monetary PT quality factors. Our main finding is that high PT shares require that all of the studied factors; efficient travel times, direct routes or few transfers, and high service frequency is in place. If either one of these are not in place, the market share for PT is significantly reduced. The study contributes to the literature on transport mode choice by combining travel characteristics with revealed mode choice data, and showing how the relative travel time and other service attributes affect the choice of PT over car on commute trips.

Suggested Citation

  • Lunke, Erik B. & Fearnley, N. & Aarhaug, J., 2021. "Public transport competitiveness vs. the car: Impact of relative journey time and service attributes," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:90:y:2021:i:c:s0739885921000706
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2021.101098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Kush Mohan Mittal & Marc Timme & Malte Schröder, 2024. "Efficient self-organization of informal public transport networks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
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    8. Chakrabarti, Sandip, 2022. "Passively wait for gridlock, or proactively invest in service? Strategies to promote car-to-transit switches among aspirational urbanites in rapidly developing contexts," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 251-261.
    9. Hansson, Joel & Persson, Andreas & Svensson, Helena, 2026. "Five minutes more or less: Understanding the travel time experience in public transport," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R42 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government and Private Investment Analysis; Road Maintenance; Transportation Planning
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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