Does the Academic Rank Matter? Study on the Trip Preferences of Academicians from Different Ranks Employed at Istanbul Technical University

Abstract

This study estimates a stratified multinomial logit mode choice model of the trip preferences of academicians employed at the Ayazaga campus of Istanbul Technical University. The mode choice model contains three alternatives that are dominantly preferred among academicians: private vehicle, public transport, and service vehicle modes. The data are obtained from a face-to-face questionnaire distributed to a randomly selected number of academicians working on campus. The estimated model is used for a simulation study that aims to understand the differences in modal preferences based on academic ranks and for a scenario analysis to observe the attitudes of the private vehicle users under policy changes. According to the assessment of the analyses, among academician groups of different ranks, different tendencies mostly related to income and age are recognized for actual mode choices, whereas similar approaches prioritizing convenience are noticed under suggested policy changes.