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Travel behavior
Book Reviews planning for a developing country. This study is an attempt to establish how people’s attitude, in general, not just their job, income or class, affect their behaviour towards intercity transportation, and also to identify socio-economic variables, system attributes and trip characteristics that influence attitudes and changes in attitudes. A survey was carried out on a stratified random sample of 842 intercity travellers using road transport at peak times between Baghdad and 16 major centers of population in Iraq, and 23 attitudinal and situational (explanatory) variables obtained. Three main statistical techniques were used to analyse the data. They are discriminant analysis which correctly classified about 98% of the cases into appropriate classes (modes of transport). The results show that attitudes towards the system attributes: waiting time, comfort and convenience, modal frequency, travel cost, travel time and modal safety are the most important in explaining modal choice. Principal component analysis indicated that structural simplification can be achieved through reducing the dimensionality from 10 attitudinal variables to five components which have meaningful practical interpretation and together explained 72% of the total variability in the data. Stepwise regression analysis showed that household income. particularly, mode of travel and travel cost are highly significant variables for explaining travellers perceived importance of the transportation system attributes. The models developed have high explanatory and predictive powers and also are highly sensitive to changes in income and travel cost. The main recommendations for planning and determining policy for improving intercity transport system in the study area are given in the final chapter.
Shopping destination choice: A case study of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Al Dousary, Ibrahim Salih, Ph.D. University of Cincinnnfi, 1987. 173 pp. Adviser: Robert McNee Order No. DA8712705 This study explains consumers’ behavior in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three general hypotheses (which contain thirtynine subhypotheses) were established to test the variables of the consumers’ attributes, destination attributes, and the trip attributes. The tests were aimed at discovering which group of variables has the greatest effect on the consumer’s behavior when choosing their shopping destinations. The data gathered by means of questionnaires were analyzed in three sections. First was-the descriptive analysis of all the variables: second was the ANOVA and the Newman-Kuels test; and finally the discriminant analysis technique. The results of the previous tests revealed the significance of five consumers’ attributes, seventeen destination attributes, and four trip attributes. At the same time six consumers’ attributes, five destination attributes, and two trip attributes were found not to be significant. The tests also revealed that the destination attributes were the most influential factors determining the consumers’ behavior. The trip attributes came in second in importance to the consumers when making their decision of where to shop. Consumer’s attributes were the least significant force to the consumers when making their decisions.
A transport economic investigation into staggered working hours. Shahia, Mrad, D.Com. University of South Africa (South Africa), 1986. Promoter: W. F. Potgieter Urban peak-hour congestion and the necessity for low-cost solutions to this problem provided the stimulus for this study. Thus far little research on staggered working hours has
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been undertaken in the RSA. For this reason employees, scholars and enterprises in the Pretoria area were approached. The most important objectives of this study are to: (i) define staggered working hours in the urban traffic situation; (ii) determine employee attitudes towards staggered working hours and the influence of the interaction between household members; (iii) evaluate employers attitudes towards staggered working hours; (iv) investigate the possibility of its use as instrument for the relief of traffic congestion; and (v) present an outline for its implementation. The test sample for the study consists of: (a) Households in the Pretoria Area. interviews were conducted with 634 White and 404 Black households during which 115 White and 128 Black scholars were also questioned. (b) Empfoyers in the Preforia Area. A sample of 1465 employers were questioned by post with a response rate of 25.3% being realised. It appears from the study that the present working schedules of employees contributes significantly to the peak traffic problem but, where Whites are concerned, a positive attitude is revealed and no serious obstacle exists to prevent the staggering of working hours. As far as Blacks are concerned a high positive attitude was also found but problems are anticipated centering onlong working hours and distances which confine the involvement of Blacks to specific groups. Research findings revealed that school times also contribute towards traffic congestion and that scholars comprise a distinct target group for staggered hours. Despite the fact that the majority of enterprises (70%) are not amenable to staggered working hours, it is concluded that restraints in this connection are negotiable and that presently between 22% and 34% of enterprises are open to negotiation on the introduction of such a system whilst the potential could reach 71% provided the reservations of enterprises can be appeased. Research findings indicate that a system of staggered working hours can be introduced in Pretoria on the basis of a theoretical feasibility formulation and an outline for implementation as exposed in this study. Travel behavior of the elderly and handicapped in Lawrence, Massachusetts and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Alexander, Terry, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, 1988. 281 pp. Chair: Roger Teal Order Number DA8811210 This dissertation investigates the travel behavior of the elderly and handicapped (E & H) and evaluates the effectiveness of specialized transit services on the travel of these individuals in Lawrence, Massachusetts and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The transportation disadvantaged (TD) are defined in this research as those individuals without access to automobiles in their households. Transportation handicapped (TH) individuals are defined using a scale which sums the number of handicaps experienced by an individual. This research compares travel behavior of the transportation disadvantaged, the able bodied elderly, and the transportation handicapped. Travel behavior of users and nonusers of special transit is examined and a comparison of the E & H in Lawrence and Allegheny County is also made. Results of the analyses indicate that the TD and the TH are less mobile and were more frequent users of public transit. The severely handicapped traveled less than those individuals who were moderately handicapped. A cornparison of Lawrence and Allegheny County individuals indicate that the Lawrence group is more active in terms of trip making, and walk more frequently to their destinations. Allegheny County residents travel more by public bus. These differences are a result of the transportation environments found in each location. The effect of spec-
Shopping destination choice: A case study of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Al Dousary, Ibrahim Salih, Ph.D. University of Cincinnnfi, 1987. 173 pp. Adviser: Robert McNee Order No. DA8712705 This study explains consumers’ behavior in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three general hypotheses (which contain thirtynine subhypotheses) were established to test the variables of the consumers’ attributes, destination attributes, and the trip attributes. The tests were aimed at discovering which group of variables has the greatest effect on the consumer’s behavior when choosing their shopping destinations. The data gathered by means of questionnaires were analyzed in three sections. First was-the descriptive analysis of all the variables: second was the ANOVA and the Newman-Kuels test; and finally the discriminant analysis technique. The results of the previous tests revealed the significance of five consumers’ attributes, seventeen destination attributes, and four trip attributes. At the same time six consumers’ attributes, five destination attributes, and two trip attributes were found not to be significant. The tests also revealed that the destination attributes were the most influential factors determining the consumers’ behavior. The trip attributes came in second in importance to the consumers when making their decision of where to shop. Consumer’s attributes were the least significant force to the consumers when making their decisions.
A transport economic investigation into staggered working hours. Shahia, Mrad, D.Com. University of South Africa (South Africa), 1986. Promoter: W. F. Potgieter Urban peak-hour congestion and the necessity for low-cost solutions to this problem provided the stimulus for this study. Thus far little research on staggered working hours has
409
been undertaken in the RSA. For this reason employees, scholars and enterprises in the Pretoria area were approached. The most important objectives of this study are to: (i) define staggered working hours in the urban traffic situation; (ii) determine employee attitudes towards staggered working hours and the influence of the interaction between household members; (iii) evaluate employers attitudes towards staggered working hours; (iv) investigate the possibility of its use as instrument for the relief of traffic congestion; and (v) present an outline for its implementation. The test sample for the study consists of: (a) Households in the Pretoria Area. interviews were conducted with 634 White and 404 Black households during which 115 White and 128 Black scholars were also questioned. (b) Empfoyers in the Preforia Area. A sample of 1465 employers were questioned by post with a response rate of 25.3% being realised. It appears from the study that the present working schedules of employees contributes significantly to the peak traffic problem but, where Whites are concerned, a positive attitude is revealed and no serious obstacle exists to prevent the staggering of working hours. As far as Blacks are concerned a high positive attitude was also found but problems are anticipated centering onlong working hours and distances which confine the involvement of Blacks to specific groups. Research findings revealed that school times also contribute towards traffic congestion and that scholars comprise a distinct target group for staggered hours. Despite the fact that the majority of enterprises (70%) are not amenable to staggered working hours, it is concluded that restraints in this connection are negotiable and that presently between 22% and 34% of enterprises are open to negotiation on the introduction of such a system whilst the potential could reach 71% provided the reservations of enterprises can be appeased. Research findings indicate that a system of staggered working hours can be introduced in Pretoria on the basis of a theoretical feasibility formulation and an outline for implementation as exposed in this study. Travel behavior of the elderly and handicapped in Lawrence, Massachusetts and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Alexander, Terry, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine, 1988. 281 pp. Chair: Roger Teal Order Number DA8811210 This dissertation investigates the travel behavior of the elderly and handicapped (E & H) and evaluates the effectiveness of specialized transit services on the travel of these individuals in Lawrence, Massachusetts and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The transportation disadvantaged (TD) are defined in this research as those individuals without access to automobiles in their households. Transportation handicapped (TH) individuals are defined using a scale which sums the number of handicaps experienced by an individual. This research compares travel behavior of the transportation disadvantaged, the able bodied elderly, and the transportation handicapped. Travel behavior of users and nonusers of special transit is examined and a comparison of the E & H in Lawrence and Allegheny County is also made. Results of the analyses indicate that the TD and the TH are less mobile and were more frequent users of public transit. The severely handicapped traveled less than those individuals who were moderately handicapped. A cornparison of Lawrence and Allegheny County individuals indicate that the Lawrence group is more active in terms of trip making, and walk more frequently to their destinations. Allegheny County residents travel more by public bus. These differences are a result of the transportation environments found in each location. The effect of spec-