Cross-cultural contrasts of preferences for bus rapid transit and light rail transit

Author: Hensher D., Balbontin C., Ho C., Mulley C. (2019)

Journal: Journal of Transport Economics and Policy

Keywords:

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is relatively unpopular in developed economies despite its appeal in delivering
high-quality services, usually at a fraction of light rail transit (LRT) costs. This is often linked to
emotional bias towards rail-based solutions and an image perception that clouds the merits of a
bus-based system. This paper builds on research from Australia, extended by the results of a stated
choice experiment conducted in the USA, France, Portugal, and the UK, to verify whether modal
preferences are culture-specific, and what the drivers of community preferences for BRT and LRT
are in different geographical settings.