VARIATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CHARACTERISTICS OF BUS SERVICES

This study was undertaken as a part of a Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) bus demonstration project in Clearwater, Florida. It was intended to provide psychological data as inputs to analysis and design of public transportation sytems. The bus system serviced a low-density urban region in which many elderly people lived. A survey for obtaining consumer inputs was administered at home to 145 users and nonusers of the bus system. Three other variables (in addition to user status) were studied: age, sex, and health status. Large differences were found on responses to various transportation-related concerns or annoyances. Non-users were more concerned about injury and health risks, annoyances, and long-time pressures (e.g., delays). Oldest respondents were more concerned about injury and health risks and about short-time pressures (e.g., not being able to move more quickly enough). Less healthy persons also reflected this latter concern. Because of the large number of persons in the elderly (sometimes infirm) category, it was suggested that consideration of the needs and limitations of these persons is clearly advisable in the design of transportation systems.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1974/513/513-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=VARIATIONS+IN+PSYCHOLOGICAL+RESPONSES+TO+CHARACTERISTICS+OF+BUS+SERVICES&author=W.+Olsen&author=S.+Smith&publication_year=1974
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Olsen, William T
  • Smith, Seward
• Conference:
  • 53rd Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1974-1-21 to 1974-1-25
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 8-14
• Monograph Title: Planning for bus transit
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 513
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Aged; Analysis; Bus transit; Consumer behavior; Data collection; Design; Gender; Health; Needs assessment; Psychological aspects; Public transit; Surveys; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: User needs
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus transportation (Intracity); User reactions
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00081829
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023572
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 26 1982 12:00AM