Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on The Transportation Mode Preferences of Work Trips in Medium-Sized Cities of Developing Countries

Abstract

The rise in single-occupant automobiles has worsened traffic congestion and transportation emissions. Promoting public transportation is increasingly popular among commuters to improve transportation network efficiency. Patna, one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises, faces a widening gap between public and private transportation usage. This study, based on a revealed preference survey of 400 randomly selected respondents, examines key variables influencing public transportation choices in Patna, Bihar. To address the imbalance, a shift from private vehicles to environmentally friendly travel modes is necessary. The study explored the impact of socioeconomic factors on employees' mode choice using a self-administered quantitative questionnaire to gather travel behavior data. Descriptive-analytic tests in SPSS showed a preference for private transportation, with no significant positive influence of socioeconomic characteristics on public transit ridership. These findings provide valuable insights for stakeholders in planning and developing sustainable transportation strategies in Patna, and they can inform policymaking and future studies on mode choice models, including park-and-ride systems.