What are the determinants in making people free riders in proof-of-payment transit systems? Evidence from Italy

Authors

Benedetto Barabino
Sara Salis
Bruno Useli

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2015

Subject Area

place - europe, mode - bus, planning - personal safety/crime, ridership - behaviour

Keywords

Fare evasion, Fare evader determinants, Proof-of-payment, Logistic regression models, Empirical evidence

Abstract

Nowadays, in proof-of-payment transit systems, fare evasion is provoking strong interest in public transport companies (PTCs) due to the relevant economic losses, social inequity and increased levels of violence affecting personal security. Therefore, there is the need to recognize possible fare evaders. By using 2177 on-board personal interviews, gathered from an Italian PTC, and logistic regression models, we isolate determinants of possible free-rider passengers and, hence, those whom it might be advisable to target in order to capitalize on the effect of the application of countermeasures on fare evasion put forward by the local PTC. We show that males, younger than 26 years, with a low education level, unemployed and/or students and without an alternative mode of transport other than the bus are more probably fare evaders. Moreover, people who make trips of shorter than 15 min, who are systematic users and are not satisfied with the service are possible fare evaders. Finally, we found that a low level of inspection, knowledge of fines and previous ticket violations are determinants which make people more prone to evade fares. These outcomes are very useful, because, to the best of our knowledge, they represent the first empirical contribution showing the determinants which help evaluate the propensity to be a fare evader, in probabilistic terms. Moreover, they could help PTCs understand who might be a fare evader, in order to anticipate suitable countermeasures.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part A Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Recommended Citation

Barabino, B., Salis, S., & Useli, B. (2015). What are the determinants in making people free riders in proof-of-payment transit systems? Evidence from Italy. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 80, pp. 184–196.