JOURNEY-TO-WORK PATTERNS AND NEEDS : CASE STUDY OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Abstract

The. journey-to-work is part and parcel of practically every worker's daily life. While much of the research on journey-to-work have focuses on trips to the Central Business District (CBD), this academic exercise seeks to study the trip patterns to relatively remote locations in Singapore and the associated accessibility problems. This study examines journey-to-work patterns and needs of employees of Singapore Airlines. The organisation headquartered in Airline House, located in the easternmost corner of Singapore which constitutes one of the least accessible parts of the island. The focus of this study is on mode choice. Mode choice is used as the key starting point in view of the multitude of relationships amongst the different variables. It is examined in relation to the socio-economic standing of individuals and the characteristics of the various modes of transportation available to them. The socio-economic variables investigated are: gender, life cycle, income and occupational status. Of these, income is the most significant in influencing mode choice. The modal characteristic addressed are: convenience, comfort, safety and costs, with costs as the primary factor. Costs and income are, in turn, correlated as the ability to bear the transport expenditure is dependent on the level of income earned. A questionnaire survey was utilised to investigate these relationships. In this study, it was found that car ownership increased with income level. Gender and occupational differences only had limited direct influence. Although more male than female employees drive to work, they are over represented in the higher income occupations and thus much of this difference in car use can be attributed by income. A higher proportion of women employees were found to be in the lower income category and primarily use the private bus by virtue of their not being able to shoulder high transportation expenditures. Furthermore, they tended to live closer to their workplace as compared with their male counterparts. As far as the modal characteristics are concerned, it was found that it was perceptions rather than actual features of the modes which influence choice. Workers prefer the most convenient and comfortable modes but these are often the most costly means of transport. Income and costs are the primary variables which influence mode choice. The needs and problems encountered in the work trip of the workers are also examined. Some of the problems faced are: traffic congestion, indirect access, limited public bus services and overcrowding in public buses. Based on the findings, recommendations to improve the situation were made accordingly.