How does car ownership influence users’ and planners’ perceptions of new Rapid Transit Systems? The Case of Amman Bus Rapid Transit By Architect: Mohammad Abdel Qader Alfar ABSTRACT The relationship between car ownership and public transport ridership is of interest to governments and transport planners. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), as a relatively new mode of public transport, is usually promoted to car users in an attempt to challenge that contentious relationship. Car ownership can have different influences on the way users perceive BRT services. Perceptions of planners and professionals on BRT services are also expected to be influenced by car ownership objectively and subjectively. This dissertation addresses the question of how perceptions of potential riders and planning professionals on public rapid transit systems are influenced by car ownership and how the perceptions of the two groups compare. It uses the forthcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Amman- Jordan as its one in-depth case study and employs a mixed methods research approach. In addition to reference to secondary sources, two internet questionnaires were designed to measure the influence of car ownership on the perceptions of both groups using a random sample of 213 possible riders and a purposive sample of 15 planning professionals. Using triangulations and correlation tests for the generated data it was found that while car ownership has some negative influence on users’ perceptions manifested by less enthusiasm of car users about the BRT, car ownership sits within a more complex set of influences that resonate with what has been mentioned in the Theory of Planned Behaviour in what drives intentions. The dissertation also found that planning professionals tend to be more positive and objective about the BRT and its ability to attract car users. However, their perceptions, paradoxically, had a stronger correlation with car users’ perceptions on other aspects of the relationship between car ownership and the BRT implying that, on some level, planning professionals cannot detach themselves from some subjective perceptions connected to the fact that they are also car users. 2 | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... 3 FIGURES AND TABLES ......................................................................................... 4 1- INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 5 1.1 Background of the Problem ....................................................................... 6 1.2 Problem and Research Hypothesis ............................................................ 8 1.3 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................... 8 1.3.1 Aims: ..................................................................................................... 8 1.3.2 Objectives: ............................................................................................. 8 1.3.3 Main Research Questions ...................................................................... 9 1.4 Importance of the Study ........................................................................... 10 1.5 Scope of the Study ..................................................................................... 10 2- LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 12 2.1 Different perceptions ................................................................................ 12 2.2 Transport Planning and users ................................................................. 12 2.3 Car Ownership and Rapid Transit Systems ........................................... 14 2.3.1 Car ownership ...................................................................................... 14 2.3.2 BRT Ridership and Car Use ................................................................ 17 2.3.3 Socio-economic and Psychological Factors ........................................ 19 3- METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................... 22 3.1 Outline ........................................................................................................ 22 3.2 Framing Research Subjects ..................................................................... 22 3.3 Philosophical Approach ........................................................................... 23 3.4 Research Design ........................................................................................ 24 3.5 Research sample and data sources .......................................................... 26 3.6 Questionnaires Content ............................................................................ 28 3.7 Data Analysis ............................................................................................. 29 3.8 Limitations ................................................................................................. 31 3.9 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................. 32 4- FINDINGS & ANALYSIS .............................................................................. 34 4.1 Secondary Findings ....................................................................................... 34 4.2 Primary Data ............................................................................................. 37 4.2.1 Response Rate ..................................................................................... 37 3 | P a g e 4.2.2 Users Preferences with regard to public transport ............................... 38 4.2.3 Planners Perceptions on Users’ Preferences with regard to public transport ............................................................................................................. 39 4.2.4 Acquaintance with Amman BRT ........................................................ 40 4.2.5 Factors discouraging users to take the BRT when compared to car .... 41 4.2.6 Factors encouraging users to take the BRT when compared to car .... 46 4.2.7 Park & Ride Facilities ......................................................................... 49 4.2.8 Attracting Car users ............................................................................. 50 4.2.9 Car influence on BRT perceptions, based on geographical attributes . 53 4.2.10 Were car ownership levels considered when Amman BRT was planned? ............................................................................................................. 54 5- DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION .................................................................. 56 5.1 Discussion .................................................................................................. 56 5.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 59 5.3 Recommendations for Policy and Practice ............................................. 60 5.4 Further Research ...................................................................................... 61 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 62 APPENDICES .......................................................................................................... 72 . Appendix A: Users’ Questionnaire ............................................................. 72 . Appendix B: Professionals’ Questionnaire ................................................ 75 . Appendix C: Respondents Demographics .................................................. 77 FIGURES AND TABLES 4 | P a g e Figures Figure 1: Theory of Planned Behaviour, from (Ajzen, 1980) ................................................. 20 Tables Table 1: Respondents to the Planners’ Questionnaire ......................................................... 27 Table 2: Ranking of factors affecting Users’ preferences in using Public Transport ............. 40 Table 3: Factors causing respondents not to use the BRT. ................................................... 42 Table 4: Specialists’ ranking of factors causing Jordanian users not to take the BRT .......... 43 Table 5: Users vs Specialists Ranking of negative influences with regard to BRT use .......... 43 Table 6: 39 Non-car users ranking of factors negatively influencing their BRT choice compared to car use ..................................................................................................... 44 Table 7: Regular Car users’ ranking of factors negatively influencing their BRT choice compared to car ........................................................................................................... 44 Table 8: Users’ ranking of factors that encourage then to use the BRT when compared to car ................................................................................................................................. 46 Table 9: Planners’ ranking of factors that encourage then to use the BRT when compared to car ............................................................................................................................. 47 Table 10: Users vs Specialists Ranking of positive influences with regard to BRT use ......... 47 Table 11: Non-car users’ ranking of factors positively influencing their BRT choice compared to