Abstract
The emergence and rapid development of autonomous driving technology have created new transportation options for travelers, including autonomous vehicles (AVs). However, significant uncertainties persist concerning travelers’ willingness to adopt this emerging transportation mode, despite its potential benefits. This study adopts an agent-based simulation approach to investigate travel mode choice behavior for AVs, accounting for the impact of travel experience and social interaction on traveler preferences. The results demonstrate that both travel experience and social interactions exert significant influences on mode choice decisions. The travel experience aligns travelers’ decisions with a neutral preference outcome, whereas social interaction prompts travelers to select modes similar to their peers. Additionally, social interaction encourages the preference for modes with intermediate utility values. Ultimately, this research offers data support for automotive companies to identify potential AV users and informs policy development for governments. The findings also contribute to understanding the role of social interaction and travel experience in shaping travel mode choice behaviors, bridging the gap between behavioral economics and transportation research. This study provides valuable insights for designing user-centered transportation policies and marketing strategies.
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