Modal Split in Recreational Transport Planning

Abstract

Recreational modal split is examined in a study area consisting of two groups of Greek islands, resorts, one in the Central Aegean where available modes are conventional ship and airplane, the other in the Argosaronikos region where conventional ship and hydrofoil operate. Seven established models are calibrated using an aggregate data base. It is shown that the logit model is the most suitable in these circumstances. The calibration technique allows an optimum “value of time” to be determined but the paper questions the validity of this concept in a recreational context. When distances are relatively long (in the Central Aegean) overall travel time is strongly related to mode choice. On the shorter routes in the Argosaronikos region, the most significant variable is service frequency. No significant relationship with direct travel cost is found in either area. A study of the mathematical form in which variables (e.g. time, frequency) enter the model shows that mode choice is best described when the difference of the respective dependent variable between modes relative to its value for the fastest mode is used (ratio form), instead of the more traditional form simply using differences.