Understanding the influence of public transport perceptions on the adoption of demand responsive transport services in the UK: A case study

This study investigates the adoption potential of demand-responsive transport (DRT) services in a large UK urban region, with particular emphasis on the role of perceptions toward existing public transport (PT) infrastructure. While DRT is often promoted as a sustainable alternative to conventional modes, its urban implementation in the UK has yielded mixed results, partly due to a limited understanding of behavioral factors that influence its uptake. We employ a hybrid modelling framework combining revealed and stated preference data from 1490 respondents in the Greater Leeds region, integrating latent perceptions of PT reliability, safety, connectivity, and affordability within a random utility maximisation structure. Unlike traditional integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) models, we adopt a parsimonious specification using a single-indicator approach, facilitating better interpretability and policy simulation. Our analysis indicates that PT perceptions significantly influence modal preferences, with improvements in safety and connectivity increasing the likelihood of DRT adoption. Notably, these findings challenge the prevailing notion of DRT as a competitor to PT, instead emphasising the complementarity between the two modes. Our policy simulations demonstrate that a balanced “carrot-and-stick” approach–one that simultaneously improves PT infrastructure and service quality while discouraging private car use-can strengthen perceptions of PT, increase its ridership alongside DRT, and ultimately support a modal shift away from private vehicles.