Who rides the feeder? A multi-group SEM analysis of commuters’ intention to use paratransit as a feeder to a dedicated bus lane public transportation system

• System accessibility and comfort positively influence commuters’ intention to use paratransit feeder services. • Males show a higher intention to use an integrated paratransit feeder system than females. • Mid-aged adults are more sensitive to a feeder system that offers comfort and safety. • Intention to use paratransit feeder services is invariant across income groups. • Commuters show a stronger preference for three-wheelers than minibuses as feeder modes. In most Sub-Saharan African cities, promoting an integrated public transportation system often requires complementary feeder services. In Greater Freetown, Sierra Leone, proposals for the city’s first dedicated bus lane public transportation (DBLPT) system with high-quality buses are expected to transform existing service operations. A critical question is whether commuters will be willing to use paratransit services as a feeder to this new system. To explore this, the current study employs a multi-group structural equation modelling approach to investigate the factors influencing commuter intentions to adopt paratransit feeder services, thereby offering insights into service quality needs, potential behavioural shifts and system integration. The intention to use was tested for invariance across gender, age, and income groups. Data on the operations, service quality improvement, and commuters' intention to use the service were collected through a combination of onboard vehicle traffic and questionnaire surveys. Findings revealed that system accessibility and comfort positively influenced the intention to use paratransit feeder services. Gender and age differences were evident: males expressed stronger intentions to use an integrated feeder system, while females placed greater emphasis on comfort and convenience. Mid-aged adults were more sensitive to shorter commute distances, safety, intermodal connections, fare integration, and service accessibility. No significant differences were found across income groups for any of the measured attributes. Modal preference patterns indicated that minibuses were favoured by males and younger adults, whereas three-wheelers were preferred by females and mid-aged adults. These insights provide baseline evidence for planning and implementing integrated feeder services in developing cities.