Analysis of the differences in travel behaviour between Pay As You Go and season ticket holders using smart card data

This paper establishes several approaches of assessing whether the use of different fare payment options affect passenger travel behaviour. The analysis compares the behavioural traits of season ticket (Travelcard) holders against those who travel on a Pay As You Go (PAYG) basis, on the London Underground over a fourmonth period. The regularity of passenger journeys is considered through the extent of both their spatial and temporal variation. Temporal analysis revealed that the journey durations of PAYG users were consistently more variable. Spatial analysis provided mixed indications, but highlighted the contrasts in passenger composition for each fare option. Overall, the results show that the PAYG system is suitable for a wide range of users, and that regular commuters behave indifferently regardless of their fare. Neither pricing structures have been shown to encourage substantially more predictable travel behaviour, but rather that they appeal to different groups of individuals.