User perception of paratransit in Thailand: Case study of journey to work in Khon Kaen city

Abstract

Studies regarding paratransit in Thailand are mainly concerned with issues such as the role of paratransit focusing on the supply side like service characteristics and service quality. However, the study on Songtaew service in Thailand have not yet well understood. This study is the attempt to focus on the demand side of the Songtaew service in the medium-sized cities in Thailand, including Khon Kaen City by examining the use of Songtaew from the commuters’ point of view by their participation in rating the condition of Songtaew and loyalty to it. Its main objectives are to investigate the workers’ motivations for using or not using Songtaew for traveling to work, and to understand which factors influence workers in Khon Kaen City to use Songtaew. Based on the analysis, the cost and the convenience have a strongly positive impact on the decision to commute by Songtaew and the users want to keep using it in the future.