We develop a simple but modern stated-preference (SP) choice experiment to analyse the impact of traffic images on the estimated value of travel time savings (VTTS). A random subsample of survey respondents view computer-generated images that depict traffic conditions for congested and free-flow portions of hypothetical travel alternatives. The remaining respondents receive otherwise-identical surveys that only verbally describe the attributes of those alternatives. From surveys with images, the estimated VTTS is $7.40 per hour for congested travel time and $5.70 for free-flow travel time, implying a ‘congestion premium’ of 30%. From surveys without images, however, congested and free-flow VTTS estimates are identical at $5.90 per hour. Our results indicate that traffic images, however rudimentary, can substantially influence travel-time valuation, thus compelling further research on incorporating them into SP experimental design.

This study divides entire airline services into eight service stages and uses a second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to constitute service quality and to examine the causal relationships between two consecutive service stages from a service chain perspective. Two conceptual frameworks – overall framework and service chain framework are proposed. The former incorporates the constructs of service quality, sacrifice, servicescape, service value, satisfaction, switching barriers, and behavioural intentions combined with seven hypothetical causal relationships. The latter depicts seven hypothetical causal relationships between two consecutive service stages. The proposed models are validated by a case study of Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier (LCC) based in China. The empirical results support all hypotheses except hypothesis 7 that service quality positively impacts behavioural intentions. Notably, test results for the interrelationships between two consecutive service stages suggest that a lack of satisfaction at a specific service stage will affect customer perception of the consequent service stage. Therefore, to improve the service quality for a service stage, the service quality of all upstream service stages must be improved first. This study also found that service quality has a large effect although not direct on behavioural intentions while sacrifice has the smallest effect. A low-fare strategy may not be effective when an airline fails to deliver high-quality service.

This article contributes to the growing research and policy interest on the challenges of achieving socially sustainable transportation. It analyses the determinants of transport mode use for journey to work among population groups considered as vulnerable to mobility and accessibility limitations. Using the 2001 Census of Canada, multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to assess the personal, social and economic factors that affect travel mode use of low-income persons in their journey to work in urban areas in Ontario and Quebec. The findings show important differences in the factors associated with car driving and public transit, between genders, and according to income level, educational achievement, household structure and immigration status. Furthermore, it is found that significant factors affecting travel mode use among low-income people in various urban areas are differentiated by province. The results point towards a geographic-based and balanced promotion of public and private mobility programmes and policies to address transport needs of low-income workers.

This study attempts to clarify differences in Japanese time use behaviour for people with/without responsibility for nursing care of family members by comparing the behaviour of three population groups: in-home caregivers, out-of-home caregivers and non-caregivers. The analysis is also conducted with respect to the behaviour on weekdays and weekends. After examining the differences of time use behaviour based on simple statistical tests, we develop a multilevel multiple discrete-continuous extreme value model, which simultaneously represents activity participation and time allocation. In the model, observed variations, unobserved inter-individual variations and unobserved spatial variations are distinguished. Using large-scale national time use data collected in Japan, the analysis confirms various differences of time use behaviour across the three groups, especially between in-home caregivers and non-caregivers.

In this article, we propose an extended multiclass gas-kinetic theory applicable to mixed traffic flow of manual and adaptive cruise control (ACC) vehicles. In the model, the acceleration/deceleration of ACC vehicles is specified explicitly using microscopic models. The macroscopic multiclass traffic equations are obtained from the proposed gas-kinetic model using the well-known method of moments. The influencing conditions to traffic flow stability with respect to a small perturbation are derived by the linear stability method. The analytical results show that ACC vehicles contribute to the improved stabilisation of traffic flow. The numerical simulations of our developed multiclass macroscopic model on a circular freeway support our analytical findings and indicate that increasing the penetration of ACC vehicles results in more stable traffic flow. Simulations of merging flows at an on-ramp in an open freeway are carried out to describe the effects of the penetration of ACC vehicles on the bottleneck capacity. It is found that around 30% ACC vehicles in traffic flow leads to significantly increased capacity and reduced travel time. We argue that, together with other microscopic models, our model provides a wider picture of the effects of ACC vehicles on traffic flow characteristics.

In the past decades, some major cities around the world have faced various traffic problems caused by the highway infrastructure supply shortage compared with overwhelming vehicle growth. Constructing new highway systems is unlikely to mitigate this problem since available land is limited. On the other hand, physically increasing the supply of transportation systems would cause increased traffic demand, and consequently, the traffic problems may not be improved or resolved. Therefore, managing traffic requires using Transportation (or Travel) Demand Management (TDM). TDM has been one of the main strategies used to improve traffic problems in major cities around the world. In this study, the level of satisfaction towards the existing TDM strategies for road users in Taipei city is explored. As for the strategies not yet implemented, the level of acceptance is also analysed. Finally, a stated choice experiment is carried out to capture the traveller's choice behaviour under different scenarios of TDM strategies. We apply the nested logit model to analyse the satisfaction and acceptability with executed and unexecuted TDM strategies, compare the similarities and dissimilarities within work, shopping and leisure trips and discuss the relationship between variables. We find that travellers agree that disincentive strategies, also known as ‘Sticks’, could solve the problems of traffic jams, but their acceptance or satisfaction is lower than their feeling of effectiveness of TDM strategies. Besides, shortening the travel time of mass transportation tools is an important factor to increase travellers’ willingness to use them.

This article develops a model to study individuals’ activity choice and time allocation in the physical and virtual spaces. Based on the recent advancement in modeling multiple discrete-continuous choices, this article develops a so-called two-level nested multiple discrete-continuous model. The model and its estimation algorithm are tested by a case study in Hong Kong in which the activity diaries of 330 respondents in the physical and virtual spaces within 24 h were collected. The model can be used to investigate the bi-directional interactions between activities and time use in physical and virtual spaces and their implications for physical travel. It may also be applied to analyse the impacts of social, economical and spatial factors on participation in and time allocation to virtual and physical activities. The model may also be applied to study transportation, marketing and tourism problems involving two-level multiple discrete-continuous choices.

In this article, a new cellular automaton traffic flow model, in which randomisation effect is enhanced with the decrease of time gap and the long time stopped vehicle has large randomisation probability, is presented. Both periodic and open boundary conditions are considered. Under periodic boundary condition, the fundamental diagram and the properties of synchronised flow are studied in detail. Under open boundary condition, different congested patterns induced by an on-ramp are analysed. The results are consistent with the well-known results of Kerner's three-phase traffic theory published before.

This article presents an approach to problems of emergency management on motorways using a Decision Support System (DSS). The advantages of this approach in comparison with conventional operational methods are acceptable data management costs provided by spatial data already stored in a Geographical Information System (GIS), generation of new data using various spatial functions as well as transparency for all emergency services. DSS deploys GIS in conjunction with other decision models thus becoming a powerful tool for the coordination of all participants in a decision-making process during emergency situations giving them a more cooperative surrounding. For the purpose of more efficient emergency management on motorways, the main idea is to provide an organisational support by combining GIS with decision models in order to provide an effective spatial DSS concept.