URBAN HOUSEHOLD ROAD TRAVEL DEMAND AND TRANSPORT MODE CHOICE :The Case of Kampala, Uganda

This study assesses the determinants of urban household road travel demand and transport mode choice. A negative binomial and ordinary least squares regression, and the alternative specific conditional logit model are estimated using survey data. Results consistently show that daily demand for travel is inversely related to the cost of travel and positively related to average monthly income. Trip volumes increase with household size, age, and education level of the household head, but decreases with car ownership and private sector employment as compared to public sector employment. Distance travelled falls with household size, age and education level but increases with car ownership. An increase in travel time by using a given transport mode reduces the probability of using that mode while the chances of choosing other modes increases. Relative to the chances of choosing a taxi (14-seater minibus), an increase in travel cost and income increases the chances of using a private car or boda-boda (motorcycle); the probability of choosing a private car or boda-boda is inversely related to trip length and average daily trip volume; rich households as compared to the poor and larger households prefer a private car instead of boda-boda; those with older heads prefer less of boda-boda and private car; unlike female headed households, male headed ones are more likely to choose boda-boda instead of a private car. A combination of solutions is required for sustainable travel demand and traffic management: provision of an efficient public transit system coupled with increased private car parking costs, promotion of car- pooling; road tolls for drive-alone private cars; limiting access times and