Background: Transportation significantly influences a nation’s social and economic development. In India, where rapid urbanization, expanding cities, and rising income inequality are prominent, daily commuting patterns are shaped by several socioeconomic factors. These factors include income, occupation, education, caste, gender, age, family size, and whether individuals live in urban or rural areas. Together, they determine not just access to transportation but also the choice of commuting modes. India’s transport system is highly diverse. People travel by walking, cycling, buses, trains, metro rail, auto-rickshaws, and private vehicles. However, access and usage vary. Low-income groups often rely on walking, cycling, or overcrowded buses, while wealthier commuters use private vehicles or app-based cabs.
Objectives: The present study aims to analyze the socio-economic determinets that influence the selection of modes by commuters for daily travel to work.
Methodology: The present study primarily relies on primary data sources to explore the socioeconomic determinants influencing modes of transportation for daily commuting. To ensure systematic and reliable data collection, a well-structured questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was designed to capture relevant information regarding respondents’ socioeconomic background, commuting preferences, transport accessibility, and related behavioral patterns. The field survey was carried out during the months of April and May 2017. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. For the purpose of data analysis, the simple percentage method was used.
Results: The result clearly reveals that the selection of modes of transit varies with the variations in socio-economic conditions of commuters. It has also been found that the commuters living in better socio-economic condition in terms of education, monthly income, and size of household were likely more to commute by private modes of transportation than the commuters belonging to poor socio-economic condition who mostly rely on public and non-motorized vehicles.
Conclusion: The study concluded and suggested that the base to better understand which attributes are more effective in selecting the means to travel for work Moreover, the commuting modes discussed in terms of public, private and non-motorized vehicles used by commuters according to their demographic, social and economic characteristics can help to formulate the effective and successful transportation policies.