Travel Behavior of Car Share Members in Halifax, Canada: Modeling Trip Purpose in Case of the Use of Car Share Services and Mode Choice in Absence of the Service

摘要

This paper presents the findings of modeling the use of car share services for different trip purposes in Halifax, Canada. It also investigates the modes car share members would choose for those trip purposes, in absence of the car share service. The study uses latent class modeling techniques utilizing data from a web-based travel survey of existing car share members in Halifax, Canada in 2012. The paper includes two latent class models (LCM): (1) trip purposes when members uses car share services and (2) mode choice in the absence of car share. The first model investigates the purpose of accessing car share, which considers four purposes: (1) work related, (2) shopping, (3) personal business, and (4) recreational and others. The second model examines the mode choice behavior of car share members and considers five modes in the choice set: (1) transit, (2) bicycle, (3) walk, (4) taxi, and (5) other (carpool and rental car). The parameter estimates of the trip purpose model suggest that socio- economic characteristics, locationof accessing car share, membership plans, travel attributes, and neighborhood characteristics are highly significant in explaining the purpose of accessing car share services. In case of the mode choice model,socio- economic characteristics, travel attributes, and neighborhood characteristics are the majorpredictors of mode choices in absence of the car share services. The findings of modeling travel behaviorsof car share members will assist decision-makers to develop a more attractive, competitive, and easily accessible car share program.