Analyzing Preferences of Travelers for Using Community Buses as a Feeder Mode to the Metro

As a newly emerged eco-friendly public transport mode, the community bus is widely regarded as one of the effective means of solving the “last mile” problem for urban rail service. To inform policies that promote the development of the community bus, understanding the determinants that influence the choice of the community bus is essential. Taking Dalian, China as a case, this study conducts a questionnaire survey combining stated preference and revealed preference data to investigate the determinants of the community bus travel mode choice behaviors. This study demonstrates that high-frequency travelers with fixed travel needs are more likely to choose community buses for travel. They are more sensitive to the frequency of community buses’ departures, and the walking time for transfers when changing to subway. The findings of this paper provide guidance for optimizing the network layout of community bus schemes.