Spatio-temporal effects of bus arrival time information

Thakuriah, P., Tang, L. and Vassilakis, W. (2011) Spatio-temporal effects of bus arrival time information. In: Proceedings of the 4th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Computational Transportation Science, Chicago, IL, USA, 1-4 Nov 2011, pp. 6-11.

Abstract

We analyze temporal and spatial variations in bus rider- ship that may result from using real-time bus arrival in- formation. Using Random Effects Negative Binomial models of longitudinal average weekday ridership per bus route and controlling for operational, economic and social factors, we assess temporal variations in ridership by means of two types of time-varying coefficients: one that reflects "adjust- ment interval" effects after information becomes available on a route, during which users learn about information avail- ability and potentially adapt their travel behavior, and the second, a "period" effect, that reflects changes in the under-lying information and communications technology over time and ways in which people receive and use information. A k- means cluster analysis of bus stop service areas along routes that accrued the highest ridership allows us to associate the net effects of information to the socio-demographic, built environment, housing, economic, transportation and digital savviness characteristics of service areas. Four clusters of bus stops were identified: two where bus boardings gains were high after Bus Tracker, and two others where board- ing gains were either modest or low. This strategy helped to determine the types of spatially-targeted Location-Based Service applications that may be developed to capitalize on basic bus arrival information.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Keywords: public transportation information system, Random Effects Negative Binomial Model, k-means clustering, Spatial Decision Support Systems, technology adoption, Digital Divide
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thakuriah, Professor Piyushimita
• Authors: Thakuriah, P., Tang, L., and Vassilakis, W.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General); H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General); H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications; T Technology > T Technology (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies