SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AS IT RELATES TO TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR IN SIDS: A CASE STUDY IN TRINIDAD

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyse the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and the travel behaviour of Trinidadians. Many studies have shown that a relationship exists between the socio-economic and sociodemographic characteristics of an individual and their travel patterns. A better understanding of this relationship can influence transportation policy decisions and therefore, aid in improvement to the overall transportation structure. This understanding of travel behaviour is of particular importance in developing countries and SIDS, where there is limited geographical space, economic constraints and an influx of competitive unregulated paratransit modes into the transportation system. Trinidad, like other developing countries and SIDS, has a public transportation system that is dominated by paratransit modes. More notably, there is increasing penetration of illegally operated paratransit modes, that are aggressively competing in the market and gaining a lot of traction. Data was collected in January 2018 using a revealed preference survey of commuters’ work-based tours in, Trincity, a middle-income housing area with good highway and public transportation access. Results showed that income, age, distance from workplace and gender all affect the likelihood of public transport usage as a primary mode of a work tour and there were gender-based differences in the incidence of walking as part of the tour. Additionally, although most public transportation users considered the government bus service as the safest and illegal paratransit services as the least safe, the usage of such services was more than five times that of the bus. The research points to important service and policy actions which need to be taken to encourage and support shifts to more sustainable modes.