Modeling trip attributes and feasibility study of co-ordinated bus for school trips of children

Abstract This paper reports the results of a self-reporting survey (N = 821) that was conducted to examine the travel behaviour of primary school children in the study area of Vadodara city. In many Indian cities including metropolis, auto-rickshaw and van are the main modes opted by the parents for the school trips of children. The issues related to driver's behaviour, safety, comfort and over occupancy of children in vehicles were analysed regarding these current travel modes. An alternative in the form of proposed co-ordinated bus mode providing service to two or more schools and working simultaneously was offered to the school children and the response to this service was modelled by using logit models. The survey result indicates the complaints of more than 60% respondents for the current travel modes. Most effective reasons for choosing the current travel modes of auto-rickshaw and van are door to door service (>50%) and regularity of service (>40%). As about 83% respondents agreed for decision to travel in co-ordinated bus, so this indicates higher probability regarding acceptance of bus service for school trips. Family income and fare relationship seems to be significant for above response. The probability of shifting to co-ordinated bus mode increases if reductions in travel distance and cost can be achieved. Also the significant parameters are age of child, number of persons in family, expected walk time, number of employed persons in family and car ownership in family at 90% confidence level. Bus routes and the number of buses have been estimated based on the study. The proposed co-ordinated bus service is found to be economically viable.