INTERMODAL PASSENGER TRANSPORT INTERFACES

Passenger intermodality include the relative merits, benefits and costs of different modes and many other facets of journeys taken on more than one mode. This paper concentrates on one such facet, namely interfaces between public transport modes but omits interfaces involving bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, chartered van, taxi, paratransit, etc. It does include the walk mode, which is an inevitable leg (or legs) of most travel, yet is often omitted from the inventory of transport modes. The recently enhanced consideration for disadvantaged persons has stimulated interest in seamless or near seamless travel. Private cars are profligate and public transport frugal in use of valuable urban travel-space. To discourage private car travel and encourage people to use public transport, minimal impedance at points of change from one mode to another is needed as a component of comfortable journeys. Intramodal change (e.g. bus/bus or train/train) is as much a feature of multi-vehicle journeys as is strictly intermodal change. Aspects of modal interface include proximity in place and time, ease of boarding and alighting, information about the next journey component, etc. New technology (e.g., low-floor trams and busses, platform screen doors, smart cards, next vehicle count-down display, etc.) may mitigate interchange impediments. Yet the biggest problem is bureaucratic inertia and even opposition to the need for improved interfaces, or, for that matter, improved public transport. Based on personal observation in a hundred cities and descriptions in the literature, the paper cites many good and bad examples. The conclusion highlights a need for continuous strong propaganda on the civic, economic, spatial and environmental advantages (per passenger-mile) of public transport together with propaganda on improved intermodal interfaces as an important means of persuading people to use public rather than private transport.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Forum

  One Farragut Square South, Suite 500
  Washington, DC  United States  20006-4003
• Authors:
  • Diandas, J
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Forum
  • Location: Annapolis, Maryland
  • Date: 2000-11-29 to 2000-12-1
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 392-408

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air travel; Bicycle travel; Ferries; Intermodal transportation; Low floor vehicles; Passenger transportation; Public transit; Smart cards; Urban travel; Walking
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Passenger Transportation; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00804785
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 10 2001 12:00AM