Modelling drivers' car parking behaviour using data from a travel choice simulator

This paper reports on models developed from data collected using the PARKIT parking choice simulator. PARKIT provided an experimental environment in which drivers’ choice of car parks, and of the routes chosen to reach them, could be observed and the influence of different levels of parking-stock knowledge (derived from experience or from information provided via roadside message signs) monitored. Separate models were estimated for the drivers’ initial choice of car park and for their revision of that choice as their journey progresses and they learn about actual conditions. The importance of price, walking time and driving distance is confirmed but the addition of variables describing the drivers’ choices on previous days, their expectations and their immediately preceding route-choice, greatly improved the models’ explanatory power. It is noted that variables such as these are not generally considered because they are rarely available to the modeller. Different discrete choice model structures were found to be appropriate for different decisions. Route choice was represented as an exit-choice model (whereby each journey is treated as a sequence of decisions – one at each intersection encountered). The paper discusses the incorporation of these choice models into a network assignment model and concludes that much of the power of the choice models is lost if the network model is not able to support use of information about travellers’ socio-economic characteristics and knowledge of the network and about the detailed network topology

Traveller Behaviour: Decision making in an unpredictable world

This paper discusses the nature and consequences of uncertainty in transport systems. Drawing on work from a number of fields, it addresses travellers’ abilities to predict variable phenomena, their perception of uncertainty, their attitude to risk and the various strategies they might adopt in response to uncertainty. It is argued that despite the increased interest in the representation of uncertainty in transport systems, most models treat uncertainty as a purely statistical issue and ignore the psychological aspects of response to uncertainty. The principle theories and models currently used to predict travellers’ response to uncertainty are presented and number of alternative modelling approaches are outlined. It is argued that the current generation of predictive models do not provide an adequate basis for forecasting response to changes in the degree of uncertainty or for predicting the likely effect of providing additional information. A number of alternative modelling approaches are identified to deal with travellers’ acquisition of information, the definition of their choice set and their choice between the available options. The use of heuristic approaches is recommended as an alternative to more conventional probabilistic methods

Measuring Impacts of New Highways Capacity – A Discussion of Potential Survey Methods

The paper reviews survey methods that might be used to detect the various impacts of new highway capacity (changes in flow and network travel times; behavioural responses such as rerouting, change in departure times, change of mode, redistribution and change in trip frequency; and changes in land use). The review was conducted in the context of a study for TRRL which sought to establish the feasibility of measuring responses to new highway capacity. The paper considers, in turn, surveys of traffic flow, public transport usage and network travel times, methods of estimating origin-destination matrices and a variety of questionnaire and interview techniques which might be used to collect individual travel data (roadside interviews; stopline surveys; household interviews; trip-end interviews; self completion questionnaires; retrospective, prospective and stated preference questions; panel surveys and indepth interviews). There is also a brief discussion of methods to determine bight movements and land use effects. The paper should not be regarded as a source of detailed information about the various types of survey but rather as a review of their comparative strengths and weaknesses in the given context

On the use of Fixed Trip Matrices for the Evaluation of Urban Highway Schemes

This paper begins with a summary of the theoretical background to the question of fixed or variable trip matrices and briefly reviews current UK advice and practice. The main bulk of the paper is a review of published evidence as to whether network improvements do or do not affect trip matrices. The conclusion is that there is strong evidence of local land use changes, particularly adjacent to major new intersections or access points. However, it is clear that any new development is dependent on the existence of a capacity for relocation or growth in the local economy and a not unfavourable stance by the local planning authority. In the absence of new land development, however, there is little published evidence of changes in trip matrices following network improvements. The conclusion drawn from this evidence, from public interest in the question of generated traffic, and from the lack of reliable forecasting models, is that sensitivity analyses should be carried out to determine the possible effects of changes in the trip matrix before any decision is taken to ignore them

Road user charging and social exclusion: The impact of congestion charges on at-risk groups.

The importance of social exclusion in the context of congestion charging is discussed, and the groups most particularly at-risk identified. A new technique, based on generation and investigation of a synthetic population is introduced and used to establish the impacts on at-risk groups of six congestion charging schemes in Leeds. The distribution and severity of impacts are seen to depend crucially on the precise definition of the charge area, the basis of the charges and exemptions provided. Using the new technique, it can be seen how the impact on at-risk groups could be minimized without compromising the overall objectives of congestion charging. Further potential applications of the new technique are outlined

A Review of Drivers' Requirements for Guidance and Information in CLEOPATRA Cities.

The contents of this working paper were submitted in modified format as the End Users’ Requirements section of Deliverable 1, Work Package 3, of the European Commission DG X111 C Telematics for Transport project CLEOPATRA (City Laboratories Enabling Organisation of Particularly Advanced Telematics Research and Assessment), project no. TR 1012, June 1996. Various studies on drivers' requirements for guidance and information have been carried out in both Europe and the USA. An executive summary of these requirements is provided in the following sub-section. The full details of research previously conducted is given in section 2, where the main findings from a selection of studies are summarised. The subsequent section 3 on Drivers’ Requirements in CLEOPATRA Cities, gives city specific requirements where previous work has been undertaken to assess these as part of work for other European projects. Finally the conclusions on Drivers’ Requirements are summarised in section 4 and research references listed in section 5

Urban road user charging and workplace parking levies

In this chapter we will briefly describe the provision made for the introduction of road user charging and workplace parking levies in the Transport Act 2000 and equivalent legislation for London and Scotland. After reviewing the background to these provisions, we will discuss the practical issues and policy questions which arise for any local authority wishing to take advantage of their new powers. Our discussion will draw attention to developments that have occurred since the passing of the Act and conclude on the prospects for charging schemes in the UK

Estimating the impact of time-based road user charges on risk taking by drivers.

This study, conducted for ethical reasons on a driving simulator, has indicated that drivers take more risks when they are being charged for their use of roadspace on the basis of time, than they do when they are not subject to such charges. This effect is highly significant for some measures of risk taking (e.g. red light violation and illegal overtaking) but less so for others. The effect is apparent even at very low charge levels and is observed irrespective of whether the charge is based on total travel time or time spent below specified speeds (‘congestion charges’). There are however some differences in the types of risky behaviour engendered by these two charging regimes. These results have obvious and serious implications for the implementation of time-based road user charges