Early "Findings"

2004-06-07

Interpretation Notes

This is a preliminary set of observations from simple tabulations. Not all data are in yet and we haven't performed basic integrity checks, so we aren't really in analysis mode.  Many of these numbers need to be taken with a pinch of salt ... and a sense of humor.

The purpose of the survey was to gain specific information for model development, not to run a comprehensive campus travel survey — that would have required a longer questionnaire and would probably have yielded a lower response rate.  Consequently many results quoted here seem tantalizingly incomplete, e.g. 3% of respondents don't come in on Friday — are they working at other jobs, telecommuting, babysitting ... ?  We didn't set out to answer that question; we merely wanted to know how much slack and day to day variability there is in parking and travel demand.


Response Rates

Faculty    89 ... 9%
Staff    320 ... 5%
Grad    178 ... 6%
Undergrad    98 ... 0.55%
Postdoc    38
Other    10
Blank    2

Total responses: 735


Given these numbers, it's clear that the statistics below do not necessarily paint a representative picture of campus travel behavior, because both outreach and response were non-uniform.  The undergrad response rate is low, not because undergrads are uninterested, but because it was much easier to reach the other groups by e-mail.

Does this bias our study?  The research strategy is (a) to use the survey results to develop models of preference and behavior, and (b) to apply those models across the population to generate useful results.  This minimizes the bias.

Addresses

96% of respondents provided their home address (rounded to the nearest 100).  90% offered their name and phone number for the prize drawing.

Points North/West

Points South/East
Lompoc    27
Solvang    6
Buellton    5
Santa Ynez    5
Santa Maria    3
San Luis Obispo    1
Santa Barbara    307
Goleta    222
Isla Vista    34
Carpinteria    16
Ventura    10
Oxnard    4
Camarillo    4
Thousand Oaks    1
Montecito    1
Summerland    1

This is unrepresentative because of the uneven response rate.  What's interesting is how far people travel.

Top Responding Departments

Geography (incl. Bren)    37
Chemistry    29
Psychology    19
Physics    28
Housing    15
Geological Sciences    11
Computer Science    11

Thanks to the MSOs for circulating the notice.

Gender

Male    357
Female    372
Blank    6

Age

<35    385
35-55    272
>55    71

Travel from/to an address other than home

Very few come in from an alternate address (e.g. work).  A slightly larger number return elsewhere, that may peter out on Thursday and Friday.


M
T
W
R
F
Inbound
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Outbound
5%
5%
6%
4%
3%

How many stop (drop-off, shop, therapy, etc) on the way to/from UCSB


M
T
W
R
F
To UCSB
12%
12%
12%
11%
10%
From UCSB
24%
24%
24%
23%
21%

These are generally those for whom public transport would be twice as burdensome.  How many actually use transit?  Stay tuned.

How many don't come in

M
T
W
R
F
2%
1%
1%
1%
3%

Potential for telecommuting?

How many days/wk do you think you could telecommute?

3+/wk    11%
1-2/wk    38%
Not At All    46%

... and what would your supervisor say to that?

Da    34%
Nyet    43%

Factors in choice of mode

Percent who report these factors as "big"

Flexibility    72%
Speed    70%
Cost    57%
Comfort    48%
Safety    46%

How long is the walk to the nearest bus stop (all respondents)?

<3 min    31%
3-8 min    30%
8-12 min    13%
>12 min    10%
Dont Know    16%

Trips by mode

Drive    43%
Carpool    12%
Bus    12%
Bike    28%
Walk    3%
Other    1%

Note that undergrads are not well reflected.

What is the time value of a bus transfer?

Question: "If you transfer, consider this scenario: suppose there was a direct bus that had no transfers but took a longer route.  How much longer a ride would you accept, in exchange for the convenience of no transfers?"

Average: 6.7 minutes

Did you use TPS help/facilities to find your carpool buddies?

Yes    24
No    74

This is not a reflection on the quality of TPS help, it's more a measure of the impact pure address-based carpooling can make.  The situation depends on whether the carpooler knows enough people in the neighborhood, is interested in making new acquaintances, etc.

Carpoolers: How much time would it save if you drove alone?

1-10 min    21%
11-20 min    18%
21-30 min    12%
No Diff    49%

A large proportion report "no difference."  This bears further investigation — are there that many couples on campus?  Taken in conjunction with the response above, it suggests that carpoolers live close to each other.

How many people in your carpool?

Average: 4

How do you feel about Stack Parking?

Avoid It    43%
Dont Mind    22%
Like It    8%
N/A    26%

Comment: "I refuse to give my key to a valet, ever"

The value of money

How high a parking fee would you be willing to pay?

$120    13%
$150    21%
$180    18%
$210    13%
$240    4%
Anything!    32%

Comments:
"A parking permit is a necessity & any fee increase is simply a salary reduction."
"When I first came to campus I thought $110 was outrageous for parking, but I have found it is worth it to avoid the hassle of the bus"
"After 30 years of paying parking fees, I would expect to own a space by now, not have to spend ages hunting for one."

The value of time

Question: Suppose all we had was satellite parking with a shuttle to campus.  How much of a resulting delay would you tolerate?

1-5 min    12%
6-10 min    27%
11-15 min    31%
16-20 min    19%
30+ min    12%

Comments:
"[If] E9 and E10 were to happen I would find a new place to work."

Freeform Comments

Thank you for the comments — all 320 of them.

Drive    20% of all records had a comment in this area
Walk/bike    20%
Bus    10%
Carpool    6%

A small selection of freeform comments

There is inevitably some repetition of themes among the 320 comments.  There are many good ideas here (not a criterion for being cited below), and this paints a rich overview of campus transportation experiences.  The complete set of freeform responses will be posted shortly, separately.




    VEHICLE INTELLIGENCE & TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS LABORATORY
    University of California, Santa Barbara
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