Influence of Perceptive Utilities and Personality Traits on Route Choice by Commuters; A Case Study of Komarock-Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) Corridor

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2024 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 11 Issue 11

Year of Publication : 2024

Authors : Jane Mabatsi, Zachary A. Gariy, Tulatia Mungathia

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V11I11P103

How to Cite?

Jane Mabatsi, Zachary A. Gariy, Tulatia Mungathia, "Influence of Perceptive Utilities and Personality Traits on Route Choice by Commuters; A Case Study of Komarock-Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) Corridor," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 11,  no. 11, pp. 23-35, 2024. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V11I11P103

Abstract:

Traditional approaches to traffic assignment use time and cost as determining factors, thus not representing the complexity of human behavior and resulting in inaccuracies, which may cause underestimation or overestimation of traffic volumes. The study investigated the effects of perceptive utilities and personality traits on route choice among commuters within the Komarock-Nairobi CBD Corridor so as to increase accuracy in route choice modelling. A questionnaire measuring sensation seeking, spatial ability and familiarity with urban areas was administered to 267 commuters from the Komarock area and scores on these traits were correlated with commuters’ route choices. For perceived utilities, commuters’ ratings of perceived scenery and perceived insecurity on a Likert scale were correlated with route choice. Regression analysis and optimization in the R programme were employed to establish routes’ utility functions and route assignment models that incorporate subjective traits. A negative correlation was observed between commuters’ spatial ability and the tendency to change commute routes. A negative correlation was observed between perceived insecurity and frequency of route selection, confirming that insecurity on a route discourages usage. A positive correlation was observed between perceived scenery and route choice decision, confirming that scenic routes attract users. The incorporation of perceived insecurity and scenery into the route utility function resulted in a decrease in the randomizing error of the function. Integrating perceived utilities and personality traits improves route choice modeling accuracy, and this should be implemented to improve route choice modelling and overall transportation planning.

Keywords:

Traffic assignment, Route choice, Perceptive utilities, Personality traits, Central Business District.

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