Modelling inter-urban trip flow pattern of selected cities in Niger State, Nigeria

Inter-urban travel forms one of the main spatial and economic features of any nation’s economic landscape. Understanding and forecasting inter-urban movement is a crucial input for urban and regional transportation planning. This study therefore was carried out to develop trip generation model of selected cities in Niger State. Questionnaire survey was carried in three main urban centres in the state namely; Minna, Bida and Suleja. Four (400) copies of questionnaires were administered at the three major public motor parks where travelers usually board vehicles for inter-city travels Niger state.  Using multiple stepwise regression model analysis, six independent variables namely; travel distance (TD), travel time (TT), population (PP), public institution (PI) and fare charged (FC) were regressed against the dependent variable (Y) which is inter urban travel flow (ITF). However, only 2 independent variables; that is population (PP) and fare charged (FC) were good and significant for explaining the variation in the flow of inter urban trips in the state. Two variables record R2 of 1.00 which implies 100% contribution to explanation of the variation in the inter-urban travel in Niger State. The study also discovered that Minna-Suleja route constitutes the heaviest traffic corridors in the state. In view of these findings, it was recommended that adequate public transport provision should be made to meet inter urban travel needs within the state by NSTA and a more comprehensive regional transportation planning for the entire state is recommended to cover other important towns that could not be covered in this study.   Key words: Inter urban, travel, pattern, flow, generation, attraction.