PUBLIC BEHAVIOR TOWARDS DIFFERENT MEANS OF COMMUTATION WITH REFERENCE TO DEHRADUN

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1 372 PUBLIC BEHAVIOR TOWARDS DIFFERENT MEANS OF COMMUTATION WITH REFERENCE TO DEHRADUN TADAMARLA.ANUPAMA*; INUMULA KRISHNA MURTHY**; K.DEEPPA*** ABSTRACT *Assistant Professor, College of Management and Economic Studies, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Bidholi Campus, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. **Assistant Professor, College of Management and Economic Studies University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Bidholi Campus, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. ***Lecturer, College of Management and Economic Studies, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Bidholi Campus, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is one of the oldest cities of India and is recently declared as the Provisional Capital of newly created Uttaranchal (Now Uttarakhand) State in the month of Nov According to the latest census report, the Dehradun district has a population of 1,282,143.The means of transport used by people of Dehradun to commute are municipal buses, private taxis/auto, two wheelers, four wheelers, and private buses. The purpose of this research is to Study the Public behavior on different means of transportation available in Dehradun for regular commutation. People use different means of transport for their daily commutation in Dehradun. We have identified few of them which are very common and conducted a survey with the residents of Dehradun to know their satisfaction level with existing transport means and factors which are influencing their choice of daily commutation. A well defined questionnaire is used for collecting data for the research.. The study is carried in Dehradun during the year April This study could be useful to develop better public transport modes and systems, as efficient and reliable urban transport systems are vital for a state to achieve economic development KEYWORDS: Commutation, Public Transportation, Private Transportation, Waiting Time. INTRODUCTION Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is one of the oldest cities in India and is recently declared as the Provisional Capital of newly created Uttaranchal (Now Uttarakhand) State in the month of Nov It consists of 6 tehsils, 6 community development blocks, 17 towns and 764 inhabited villages. It also consists of 18 uninhabited villages. According to latest census, the Dehradun district has a population of 1,282,143.The means of transport used by people of Dehradun to commute are municipal buses, private taxis/auto, two wheelers, four wheelers, and private buses. Understanding of commuting mode behavior is crucial for enhancing the effects of transportation demand management policies and improving the utilization of mass transits. For the purpose, this research focused on analyzing the influences

2 373 of various factors like availability, cost, frequency, distance to travel, comfort, security etc on commuting. This study could be useful to develop better public transport modes and systems. Efficient and reliable urban transport systems are vital for the Indian cities to achieve economic development. Transport demand in most cities in Indian has increased substantially, due to increase in population, which is a result of both natural increase and migration from rural areas and smaller towns. The increasing rate of urbanization and city size has put the urban transport system under great stress. The existing public transport systems have not been able to keep pace with the rapid and substantial increases in demand. LITERATURE REVIEW Differences in people s attitude and personality traits lead to their attributing varying importance to environmental considerations, safety, comfort, and convenience, and could be a key to improving the urban transport situation. Gärling et al. (1998) found that attitudes towards flexibility, comfort, and environmental issues all influence one s choice of transport. Cuttingedge research now considers transport as a part of everyday life and behavior, and an integrated part of modern culture (Jensen, 1999). Beirão and Cabral (2007) conducted a qualitative study of public-transport users and car users in order to obtain a deeper understanding of travelers attitudes towards transport and to explore perceptions of public transport service quality. Hiscock et al. (2002) conducted in-depth interviews with a sample of car owners and non-car owners in Scotland, to investigate the psycho-social benefits people seem to derive from their cars. They found that cars were seen to provide protection from undesirable people and events, and provided autonomy because car use was seen as being more convenient, reliable and providing access to more destinations than public transport. Cars were also seen to give prestige and other socially desirable attributes such as competence, skill and masculinity. To make public transport more attractive, the authors suggested that policy makers consider how make it provide similar sorts of benefits, targeting the different needs of various population groups. Mobility in the developing world is often characterized by travel demand that far exceeds supply (Darido 2003). Traveler modal choice is generally explained by three basic factors: characteristics of the journey (e.g., length, time of day, and purpose), the socioeconomic characteristics of the traveler, and the transport system (Thamizh Arasan et al. 1996). DATA &METHODOLOGY The study was conducted in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Random sampling was followed to select the sample of 280 customers. The respondents in the sample were interviewed and the data was collected using a well- structured interview schedule. Simple percentages were worked out to study general characteristics like age, gender, education, usage of different modes of transportation, money spent on transportation, factors that influence to choose the mode of transportation etc. The sample respondents were asked to indicate the satisfaction levels on highly satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied and highly dissatisfied. The types of transportation modes that are considered are company bus, own vehicles and private transportation. Target sample size was kept as 280 because all the places of Dehradun were not explored. The study is carried during the years April 2011.

3 374 In this study primary data was collected from people from different parts of Dehradun Information was gathered through a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done with simple percentage charts, classification of data and finding the most influenced factor for choosing the mode of transportation was done through weighted averages.chi-square test was done in the further analysis. Chi-square test was carried to find the relation between the two sets of variables i.e. parameters considered for choosing the mode of transportation, age and their satisfaction levels. Choice of transportation, profession and distance. Chi-square was calculated by finding the difference between the observed and theoretical frequency for each possible outcome, squaring them, dividing each by the theoretical frequency and taking the sum of the results. Basic Computational Equation is given by THE STUDY For the purpose of the study the entire sample of customers surveyed were categorized into different classes namely with respect to the usage of different modes of transportation for daily commutation like: College/Company Bus, Own vehicles, Private Transportation. The second section of the questionnaire contained questions regarding the socio and demographic details of respondents which are used to interpret the responses on other questions. To study the different perceptions and usage of different modes of transportation for daily commutation are done in, Dehradun during the years period April To explore the reasons behind People s preference in choosing the mode of commutation. Analysis can be drawn by identifying the satisfaction level towards the modes of transportations. To study the impact of distance and professions in choosing the mode of transportation.. TABLE I DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS Characteristics Age of respondents No. of Respondents Less than 18 years years years 102

4 years 22 More than 18 years 36 Gender Male 206 Female 74 Profession Student 120 Employee 92 Housewife 56 Business 12 Income Less than Rs.1 Lakh 90 Rs.1 to 2 Lakhs 52 Rs.2 to 3 Lakhs 64 Rs.3 to 4 Lakhs 28 More than 4 Lakhs 46 In the following table is a combination of variables like: respondents using a particular mode of transportation like company vehicle, own vehicle and private transport, respondents having their own vehicles, distance travelled daily, time, amount spent on daily commutation, satisfaction levels of respondents on different factors and factors that influence their decision of changing

5 376 means of transport like availability, cost safety comfort, cleanliness and waiting time. This analysis also gives the respondents preference for the new modes of transport etc. TABLE II VARIABLES FOR MODES TRANSPORTATION OF THE RESPONDENTS Characteristics No. of Respondents Means of Transportation College/company bus 68 Own vehicle 130 Walk 10 Friend s Vehicle 22 Private Transport 50 Distance Travelled Daily Less than 5 Km Kms Kms Kms 38 More than 20 Kms 48 Time taken to travel Less than 15 Minutes Minutes Minutes Minutes 42 More than 60 Minutes 32

6 377 Amount spent on Daily Commutation Less than Rs Rs.250-Rs Rs.500-Rs Rs.750-Rs More than Rs Respondents willing to change the means of Transportation Yes 124 No 156 New Means of Transport College/company bus 16 Own vehicle 90 Walk 2 Friend s Vehicle 12 Private Transport 4 TOTAL 124 Factors influencing the change of Transportation Availability Weighted Averages 3.19No of Respondents Cost 3.15 Safety 3.09

7 378 Comfort 2.98 Cleanliness 2.97 Waiting Time 2.90 Frequency(8 AM to 5 PM) 3.19 Frequency(other than 8 AM to 5 PM) 2.33 TABLE 3: FACTORS IN CHOOSING THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION VS. SATISFACTION LEVELS Satisfaction levels Types of service Excellen t Goo d Moderat e Ba d Wors t No of respondent s Availability Cost Safety Comfort Cleanliness Waiting Time Frequency(8 AM to 5 PM) Frequency(other than 8 AM to 5 PM) Total

8 379 TABLE 4: CHOICE OF MODE OF TRANSPORTATION VS. DISTANCE Different Modes of Transportation Distance College/ Company Bus Own Vehicle Friend s vehicle/private Transportation No of respondents Less than 5 Km Kms Kms Kms More than 20 Kms Total TABLE 5: SATISFACTION LEVELS VS. AGE Age of the respondents Satisfaction Levels Less than 24 years 24 to 30 years More than 30 years No of respondents Highly Dissatisfied/ Dissatisfied Neutral Highly Satisfied/ Satisfied Total

9 380 TABLE 6: CHOICE OF MODE OF TRANSPORTATION VS. PROFESSION Profession Mode of Transportation Student Employee Housewife/ Business No of respondents College/ Company Bus Own Vehicle Walk/Friend s Vehicle/Private Transportation Total A quantitative test was conducted in order to identify if there existed any relation between the factors or parameters considered for choosing a mode of transportation and satisfaction levels. The test results using Chi square analysis suggested that there exists very strong evidence against null hypothesis (parameters considered for choice of transport is independent of satisfaction levels) with the tests results at chi square = The result proved that satisfaction levels were dependent on parameters considered for choice of transportation (Table 3). The test results suggested that there existed very strong evidence against null hypothesis (choice of mode of transportation is independent of distance) with the tests results at chi square = 30.8 and with correlation 0.31.The result proved that the choice of mode of transportation was dependent on distance of travel (Table 4). The test results suggested that there existed very less evidence against null hypothesis (satisfaction levels regarding the choice of mode of transportation is independent of age) with the tests results at chi square = 5.72 and with correlation 0.14.The result proved satisfaction levels in choice of mode of transportation is independent of age (Table 5). The test results suggested that there exists strong evidence against null hypothesis (choice of mode of transportation is independent of profession) with the tests results of chi square = and with correlation 0.39.The result proved choice of mode of transportation was dependent on profession (Table 6).

10 381 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The general characteristics of the respondents like age of the respondents, gender and educational levels were collected to study the consumer profile. Majority of the respondents are male with 74%, 76% were between the age groups 18 to 30, 32% of them having an income group less than one lakh because the respondents are students.. THE TABULATION DEPICTS THAT Of the total number of respondents surveyed (280) maximum (46%) of them use their own vehicles as a mode of transportation, 50% of the respondents travels a distance 5 to 15 kilometers since the distance is less 53% of the respondents takes maximum of 30 minutes as journey time for daily travel. As travel time and distance are less the maximum amount spent on transportation is Rs.750 number of respondents agreed the fact is 49%. These figures were further worked upon, factors influencing for choosing the mode of transportation and satisfaction levels specifically was analyzed through weighted averages that highest rated factors influencing the change are availability and frequency with weighted average as 3.19 next factor is the cost with 3.15, next follows the safety and comfort with 3.09 last co mes the frequency (other time) with a an average of 2.33 In fact, further analysis the chi-square test result shows that parameters considered for choice of transport are dependent on satisfaction levels. Choice of transportation depends on the distance. Satisfaction levels with respect to mode of transport is independent of age groups i.e. no impact or they are uniform and last choice of mode is dependent on profession of the respondents. CONCLUSION Most of the people are using own vehicle for their commutation. Most of the people who are willing to change their choice of transport prefer their own vehicle. Availability is important parameter while choosing means of transport. Own vehicle is the most preferred means of commutation for Housewives. Parameters considered for choice of transport are dependent on satisfaction levels. Choice of transport for commutation is independent of distance. Satisfaction levels regarding choice of transport for commutation of all age groups is uniform. Satisfaction levels regarding choice of transport for commutation of all professions is uniform. Choice of transport for commutation is dependent on profession. The Overall satisfaction levels of people in Dehradun with respect to existing transport facilities are low. People are choosing own vehicle instead of public/private transport mainly due to availability factor. If this continues there will be increase in air and sound pollutions and traffic problems in Dehradun. So, government should take proper steps to improve public/private transport in return it can generate revenue to imrove the economy.

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