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Journal Article
Who are the first voluntary users of smart mobility technology? Evidence from an autonomous BRT pilot in South Korea
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- Authors
- Yongsuk Won, Jaebin Lim
- Issue Date
- 2026-10
- Citation
- Travel Behaviour and Society, v.45, pp.1-11
- ISSN
- 2214-367X
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Language
- English
- Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- This study investigates the characteristics of early voluntary adopters of smart mobility technologies based on an autonomous bus rapid transit (BRT) pilot. While most prior research has relied on stated-preference surveys, this study contrasts stated acceptability of the technology with revealed use by focusing on passengers who boarded the autonomous BRT in a corridor where autonomous and conventional BRT services operated in parallel. The pilot was operated under supervised automation with an on-board safety driver who monitored the system and intervened only when necessary, rather than as a fully driverless service (SAE Level 4). Using a mixed-mode survey of 500 respondents (143 users and 357 nonusers), we applied an extended Car Technology Acceptance Model (CTAM) incorporating technology-related perceptions and attitudinal orientations. OLS models were estimated for stated acceptability, and binary logistic models for revealed use. The results show a clear divergence: perceived usefulness and self-efficacy predict stated acceptability, whereas perceived safety and sharing economy orientation are more strongly associated with actual use; age is negatively associated with use. Personal innovativeness and pro-environmental orientation relate to stated acceptability but do not translate into revealed use. The findings suggest that early uptake of autonomous BRT depends less on general technological enthusiasm than on safety trust and shared mobility orientation, and should be generalised cautiously to fully driverless BRT services.
- Keyword
- Autonomous BRT, Public acceptance, Revealed use, Smart mobility, Stated acceptability
- KSP Keywords
- Actual use, On-board, Perceived usefulness, Personal innovativeness, Public acceptance, Self-efficacy, Sharing economy, Smart Mobility, South Korea, bus rapid transit, mixed-mode