Identifying Important Features of Paratransit Modes in Sylhet City, Bangladesh: A Case Study Based on Travelers Perception

Paratransit modes are familiar modes of transportation in Sylhet city and across Bangladesh. Field investigation markedthe existence of motorized, non-motorized and battery driven paratransit modes across city. Though non-motorizedvehicles such as rickshaws and easy bike were found in every survey location but people preferred motorized transportation.Young age range people mostly used this media as transportation. Students and service holders were most predominanttype of users found from the survey. User satisfaction was used for measuring important characteristics of paratransitmodes and the results indicated that about 70% people fall somewhere between satisfied to somewhat satisfied. AMultinomial and an Ordered Logit model were utilized to analyze passenger satisfaction and both of them agreed thatfemale passengers were dissatisfied regarding present paratransit systems. Fitness and cleanliness were considered asinfluential features of the existing modes. Lack of flexible movement of paratransit modes especially motorized onesaround city roads was the main driving force of making the mode unreliable to users. People showed positive attitudetowards overall service, safety and security of paratransit vehicles operating in Sylhet city. The fare structure made thistransport system popular, but operational shortcomings such as congestion make the prospect of existing modesquestionable.

کلیدواژه ها:

Paratransit ، Motorized ، Satisfaction ، Flexibility ، Congestion