Research and Creative Work

In the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver, students and faculty engage directly with our vibrant city, dynamic community, and magnificent landscape by working on real projects that make a real difference. Explore the ways research and creative projects at CAP ignite evolution that enriches places for people and the planet.

Inefficiency and Uncertainty of Paratransit Trips vs. Car Trips

How Time Inefficient and Uncertain are Paratransit Trips Compared to Car Trips
Principal Researchers: Akcicek, C., Misra, A., Shirgaokar, M., Marshall, W.

Compared to car travel, the findings indicate high variability and uncertainty associated with paratransit trip times. For the same origin-destination pairs, mean paratransit trip time is almost twice that of mean car travel time with a standard deviation for paratransit trip time fourfold that of the standard deviation for car trip time. For perspective, traveling an average 10 miles during the 7-8 AM morning peak can take about 16 minutes by car with almost no variability, while that same trip can take on an average 25 minutes by paratransit, with 5% trips being outside the 95% confidence interval, and thus unpredictable.

Paratransit trip time inefficiency tends to be particularly worse for females; older adults; those making trips between 9-11 AM; cash-paying customers; those making shorter trips; and for those travelling during inclement weather, including cold temperatures. The findings suggest a need to re-assess using public transit as a benchmark for paratransit supply as regulated by the ADA.

Cemal Akcicek compares paratransit and car trips

More Information: Project Documentation

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