Campus Travel Choices and Green Travel Potential Among the Students at Tripoli University

Abstract

This study aims to discover the preferred modes of transportation among University of Tripoli students and evaluate their willingness to shift toward non-motorized alternatives, such as walking and biking. A questionnaire survey of students (undergraduate and postgraduate students) is conducted to gather information for the study. Two questionnaires were used as instruments to gauge the transport mode choice and willingness to use non-motorized travel. The outcome of the study reveals that the most preferred mode of transport is private car (mode choice=30.7%), followed by bus (mode choice=34.1%) and carpool (mode choice=13.3%). It was concluded that the factors significantly influencing the shift from private car owners to public transportation are reduced travel time and cost, the elimination of parking fees, shorter wait times at bus stations, and improved services at bus stops. By improving these factors, a high proportion of students will opt for public transportation. Currently, cycling is an uncommon option on campus due to weather conditions, but it seems to be generating positive interest among those surveyed. Therefore, to promote this mode of transport, incentives such as bike loans and good facilities should be offered. The suggestion to provide e-bikes also received strong support. The most frequent problem when walking on campus is the lack of covered sidewalks, especially when travelling between areas. This could be the main reason for the university community to rely on public transportation (e.g., campus bus) or a personal automobile (e.g., private car or motorcycle) for longer distances. It was found that the most common challenges for bus rides are timeliness and comfort-related concerns, as they often have to board the bus even when it is already full or wait for the next one, which usually takes longer and increases the number of passengers waiting.