Using repeated-measurement stated preference data to investigate users’ attitudes towards automated buses within major facilities

The paper reports on the results of an investigation about users’ attitudes towards automated and conventional minibuses for routes within major facilities. A common stated preference questionnaire has been used in four European cities. The econometric analysis is based on the estimation of three binomial logit models: one model considers all independent observations, a copula logit and an error component logit take into account the correlation among error terms of the observations by the same individual. The observed attributes are waiting time, riding time and fare. Of particular interest, is the estimation of the alternative specific constant (ASC) of the automated minibus, because this represents the mean of all the unobserved attributes of the automated alternative that affect the choice. With a common specification of the systematic utilities of the automated and conventional alternatives, the results show a positive value of the ASC, which is indicative, the observed attributes being the same, of a relatively higher preference for automation. The differences in policy implications among the three models estimated are negligible. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017.