Designing a Useful and Relevant Real-Time Passenger Information System for Bus Transit Stations in the Age of the App

The benefits of providing Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) to passengers have been widely reported in the literature. Traditionally RTPI has been provided to passengers using LED or LCD panels located at bus stops and transit stations. However such systems can be expensive both to install and to maintain. In recent years there has been a proliferation of smartphone applications (apps) that allow users to access RTPI personalised to the user. This raises the question of whether fixed RTPI panels are still necessary.This paper presents the results of a survey of 433 passengers in Singapore on RTPI provision at bus transit stations. The survey concluded that 93.1% of respondents felt that RTPI panels are still relevant in the age of the app. Such panels at bus transit stations are used by over 75.1% of respondents whereas mobile phone RTPI apps were used by only 50.1%. In particular the survey found that only 24.7% of respondents older than 50 used such apps. RTPI panels were also more trusted than the apps.On the design of RTPI systems, chi-square tests concluded that location of panels, a factor often overlooked, is very important. Analysis also highlights the balance to be made between providing a non-cluttered display and providing extra information that some users will want. The survey found that approximately 40% of passengers would view advertisements whilst waiting for their bus. The paper concludes with 6 recommendations for the design of RTPI panels at bus transit stations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP030 Standing Committee on Public Transportation Marketing and Fare Policy.
• Authors:
  • Tan, Isaac
  • Robinson, Steve
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Applications; Bus terminals; Design; Passenger information systems; Public transit; Real time information
• Geographic Terms: Singapore
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01657391
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-01456
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 24 2018 9:24AM