Estimating the willingness-to-pay of local residents and tourists for shared demand responsive transit services

The study delves into the promotion of Volunteer-model Shared Demand-Responsive Transit Service (V-SDRTS), specifically addressing its applicability in addressing the transportation needs of sparsely populated rural areas. The empirical analysis draws from data collected in two Taiwanese townships, encompassing both local residents and tourists. Through contingent valuation and triple-bounded dichotomous choices in two scenario designs, the research examines the willingness-to-pay (WTP) of potential V-SDRTS users. Notably, among local residents, socio-economic factors such as gender, age, average income, and concerns about driving safety impact their WTP. On the other hand, tourists' WTP is notably influenced by factors like age and waiting time. Despite similar price estimates derived from linear and interval regression analyses, tourists demonstrate a higher WTP than local residents. This finding suggests the possibility of implementing distinct fare structures for these two user groups, providing practical insights for V-SDRTS pricing strategies tailored to diverse user demographics and needs.