QUALITY ATTIBUTES OF A JOURNEY: THEIR IDENTIFICATION AND IMPACT ON TRAVELLERS

This report presents an investigation of how travellers perceive and evaluate factors contributing to the quality of their journeys. The research was based on a re-examination of several qualitative data sets, typically tape-recorded interviews and transcripts, where travellers talked about their journeys. The interview records were used to: (1) identify as many as possible of the quality attributes perceived by travellers using different modes, and find evidence for sources of variation; (2) obtain insights into how travellers value, weigh, or trade these attributes against each other and against time and money travel costs. The report gives details of: (1) core factors; (2) logistical factors influencing choices; (3) the travel environment; (4) travellers' attitudes and motives; (5) personal influencing factors; (6) trade-offs and mode-switches. The authors conclude that: (1) quality variables play a significant part in travellers' choices; (2) a few strong core factors could reduce the number of degrees of freedom in a planned trip; (3) different concerns were important for users of different modes; (4) assessments of quality variables are subjective and contradictory. The implications of these findings are considered for: (1) incorporating quality factors in travel demand models; and (2) possible new research projects.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Oxford

  Transport Studies Unit, 11 Bevington Road
  Oxford,   United Kingdom  OX2 6NB
• Authors:
  • Parkhurst, G
  • KENNY, F
  • GOODWIN, P
• Publication Date: 1992-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 68 p.
• Serial:
  • TSU REF: 688
  • Publisher: University of Oxford

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Demand; Evaluation and assessment; Interviewing; Quality control; Transportation modes; Travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quality; Selection
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 285: Demand (econ); 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 9147: Interview; 698: Journey; 9063: Quality; 9072: Selection; 1145: Transport mode
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00642260
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Feb 15 1994 12:00AM