Behavior of taxi customers in hailing vacant taxis: a nested logit model for policy analysis

This study models and examines the taxi customers' preferences for hailing vacant taxis on streets. A stated preference survey was conducted to randomly select and interview 1242 taxi customers at taxi stands and pedestrians on streets, who had experiences of taking taxis recently, about their choices under different given hypothetical scenarios. In total, 4968 observations were collected and used for developing the discrete choice models for the analysis. To account for the potential correlations among alternatives, two nested logit models are developed, calibrated, and compared with a standard multinomial logit model in the investigation. The results of likelihood ratio test demonstrate that one of the developed nested logit models is better than the standard multinomial logit model to describe the search behavior of taxi customers. The model results also show that the walking time to and the waiting time at the location for hailing taxis, the extra travel time to the destination because of local circulation for finding a way from the pickup location heading to a passenger's destination, as well as the taxi customers' perceptions for walking to and waiting at taxi stands were found as significant factors to influence their decisions. In addition, the results of market segmentation analysis illustrate the variations in taxi‐search strategies of taxi customers in different districts and regions. Some policy implications on introducing more taxi stands and improving the utilization rates of taxi stands are also discussed. We believe that the proposed models, findings, and discussion are useful for developing micro‐simulation models to evaluate the performance of road traffic networks with taxi services and developing simulation‐based optimization models to answer policy questions related to taxi services. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anticipating PEV buyers’ acceptance of utility controlled charging

Utility controlled-charging (UCC) of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) could potentially align vehicle charging with the availability of intermittent, renewable electricity sources. We investigated the case of a nightly charging program where the electric utility can control home PEV charging. To explore consumer acceptance of this form of UCC, we implemented a web-based survey of new vehicle buyers in Canada (n = 1470). The survey assessed interest in PEVs, explained UCC, and elicited openness to UCC through attitudinal questions and a stated choice experiment. We find potential for UCC support among one-half to two-thirds of respondents interested in purchasing a PEV, depending on the scenario. However, some respondents express concerns with privacy and loss of control. To quantify preferences for UCC, we estimated a latent class choice model where respondents chose between different PEV charging programs. The model identified four distinct respondent segments (or classes) that vary in their acceptance of UCC, as well as their valuation of renewable electricity, saving money on their electrical bill, and undergoing charging inconvenience. The overall sample was more sensitive to cost incentives than to renewable incentives, where cost-based UCC programs garnered 63–78% enrollment while renewable-based programs garnered only 49–59% enrollment. Overall, we observe the potential for widespread acceptance of UCC programs among Canadian PEV buyers, but program design and deployment will need to carefully acknowledge the various motivations and concerns of different vehicle buyer segments.     

An integrated framework to jointly model decisions of activity time allocation and work-related travel

Five activity-travel choice dimensions, including three activity time allocation decisions and two work-related travel choices, are jointly modeled using the structural equation model in order to accommodate the complex interactions among them. Via a two-step estimation approach, the behavioral pattern underlying activity-travel decisions is explicitly revealed. For example, it demonstrates the priority with respect to subsistence activity, maintenance activity, and recreation activity due to a limited time budget; and bus commuting behavior positively influences the time allocated to the maintenance activity. In addition, two attitudinal factors are constructed and confirmed to have important effects on the five behavioral dimensions, which contribute to reveal the decision-making process from the perspective of psychology. This comprehensive framework is expected to provide important implications for mobility management and urban planning.     

Correcting state dependence and serial correlation in the RP/SP combined estimation method

Revealed preference (RP) data and stated preference (SP) data have complementary characteristics for model estimation. To enhance the advantages of both data types, a combined estimation method is proposed. This paper discusses the method and practical considerations in applying it, and introduces a new method of considering serial correlation of RP and SP data. An empirical analysis is also presented.     

Valuing reductions in environmental pollution in a residential location context

A stated preference ranking experiment is designed to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for reducing the amount of atmospheric pollution in a group-based residential location context. Important issues are the proper definition of the context and the variable metric for the environmental attribute. Sample members were asked to rank 10 options arising from variations in the attributes travel time to work and to study, rent of the house and an environmental attribute (the number of days of Alert, in terms of concentration of PM₁₀, at a dwelling’s location). Multinomial logit models based on a consistent microeconomic framework were estimated for various stratifications of the data (income, pollution sensitivity, and type of dwelling currently inhabited). From these subjective values of time and WTP were derived for reductions in the number of days of alert and hence the amount of pollutant concentration at a given location. The WTP came out at about 1% of the family income for reducing one contingence day per year; this is approximately 60% higher than an estimate reported for the city of Edmonton, Canada, but the average PM₁₀ concentration in Santiago is about six times higher.     

Model for Choosing a Payment Term in Export Business Based on Relative Preference Estimation

Introduction　　Multiobjectivedecision makinghasbeenafocusofresearchesondecision makingtheoryforalongtime .Accordingtothedifferenceinthewayforadecision makerto providepreferenceinformation ,thesolutionssofarproposedcanbeclassifiedintothefollowingthreekind…     

Stated preferences for investigating commuters' diversion propensity

A reasonable response to increasing traffic congestion may come from the rapidly developing traveler information systems. Such systems may be successful if they effectively influence drivers' enroute decisions; in this regard, a critical factor may be commuters' willingness to divert from their regular route in response to information about traffic congestion. This study evaluates the effects of real-time traffic information along with driver attributes, roadway characteristics and situational factors on drivers' willingness to divert.The empirical portion of this study is based on a survey of downtown Chicago automobile commuters. The stated preference approach was used to study commuters' diversion propensity. Drivers expressed a higher willingness to divert if expected delays on their usual route increased, if the congestion was incident-induced as opposed to recurring, if delay information was received from radio traffic reports compared with observing congestion, and if trip direction was home-to-work rather than work-to-home. Respondents were less willing to divert if their alternate route was unfamiliar, unsafe or had several traffic stops. Socioeconomic characteristics were also significant in predicting willingness to divert.     

The congestion multiplier: Variations in motorists’ valuations of travel time with traffic conditions

The value of travel time savings in part depends upon the disutility of the travel time that is saved and partly on the use to which the time saved is put. It has long been recognised that the disutility of the time spent travelling also depends upon a wide range of factors such as the journey length or the effort, comfort and safety associated with travelling.Hence we might expect the value of motorists’ travel time to vary with the traffic conditions as represented by the degree of congestion, in part to reflect the more difficult driving environment when there are more vehicles, but also a higher sense of frustration, similar to that associated with waiting time and contributing to its premium valuation.In this context, and despite the predominance of car travel in developed countries, the empirical evidence specifically relating to car values of travel time tends to fail to distinguish between different types of time according to the degree of congestion. Thus we are often left unclear as to precisely what type of time has been valued. Moreover, when a distinction is made, it tends to be into a simple dichotomy of congested and uncongested traffic.This paper provides new evidence on the variation in the valuation of motorists’ travel time savings across a finer gradation of types of time than has been hitherto attempted. This is obtained from the same Stated Choice exercise conducted in the United Kingdom and the United States. The paper also provides an extensive account of previous research into how congestion impacts on motorists’ values of time.     

Estimating the Economic Benefit of SCUBA Diving in the Similan Islands,Thailand

This article reports the results of the travel cost model using the standard and the truncated count data models to estimate the economic value of the Similan Islands, Thailand, from SCUBA diving. The estimated consumer surplus per visit to the Similan Islands using the truncated negative binomial model was US$3,233 and the economic value of the Similan Islands from SCUBA diving was estimated to be up to US$54.96 m. This study shows that, even without non-use values, coral reefs of the Similan Islands, if properly managed and maintained, will continue to have significant value to both Thai and overseas SCUBA divers, as one of the natural treasures of the world.