FACTORS INFLUENCING MODE OF TRAVEL TO SCHOOL: A CASE STUDY OF NAKHON RATCHASIMA
Keywords:
Public bus, theory of planned behavior, structural equation model, studentsAbstract
Thailand is ranked as 1 of the world’s most congested countries and Nakhon Ratchasima is an area in Thailand encountering that problem, especially in the areas to which a large number of students travel by private vehicles. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and analyze the factors influencing the students’ mode of travel to school by public buses and develop a structural equation modeling of the students’ public bus mode choice for trips to and from school. The sample group consisted of 680 parents whose children are studying at the secondary school level in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District. The data were collected by using a questionnaire and were analyzed by structural equation modeling according to the theory of planned behavior. From the model of factors influencing the motorcycle mode choice for school trips (a comparison between public buses and motorcycles), it was found that the behavioral intention to choose public buses to school has the most effect (β = -0.944), which is influenced by the attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control in using public buses. In addition, the model of factors influencing the private car mode choice to school (a comparison between public buses and private cars) showed that the behavioral intention to choose public buses for school trips has the most effect (β = -0.675), which is influenced by the attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control in using public buses. The results of this research can be used as guidelines for planning to promote students’ public transport use for school trips.
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