Structural modelling of simultaneous effects of private and public transport quality on daily trip demand

One of the most important variables, playing key role in urban transportation decision making, is quality of service. Researchers implemented various approaches for modelling transport quality for different modes. Concerning the macro dimension of transport quality, aggregate modelling is a proper approach for transport quality modelling. Giving aggregate data of different world cities by centralized databanks, provided prerequisite of such a macro analysis. Present research used world cities data and structural equation modelling method to analyze macro relations of supply and demand of public and private transportation and transport quality as a latent variable. Modelling showed that daily trip demand of city is significantly influenced by public and private transport quality. This means that with increase in private and public transport quality, urban transport system will face increase in daily trip demand. Another part of this research analyzes the simultaneous effects of private transport quality on private and public transport demand and effects of public transport quality on private and public transport demand. The modelling showed that private transport demand is significantly influenced by private and public transport quality. Furthermore, public transport demand is significantly influenced by private and public transport quality. Effects of private transport quality on public transport demand and public transport quality on private transport demand are negative, whereas effects of private transport quality on private transport demand and public transport quality on public transport demand are positive. Another conclusion is that, the decreasing or negative role of private transport quality on public transport demand is almost twice the decreasing role of public transport quality on private transport demand. Results of this research can be used for macro level urban transportation and public transportation policy and decisions making.