IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE--A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

BAETTRE BUSSTRAFIK FOER AELDRE--PRAKTISKT FOERSOEK I GAEVLE

This report describes a demonstration project on the effect of improving bus operations for the benefit of the elderly, held in Gaevle, Sweden, in the winter of 1983/1984. Phase 1 of the study was a mail survey of a sample of half the elderly people in the area and an interview survey of local bus drivers in which problems facing elderly bus passengers were identified. In Phase 2, each driver was given a personal briefing outlining special measures to be taken during a 6 month experimental period aimed at alleviating these problems. All elderly people in the area were then made aware, by mail, of the proposed improvement in bus services during this period. Phase 3 was an assessment of the impact of the experimental period on the elderly and on the bus drivers. With regard to the elderly 60% reported that it had been easier to travel in the experimental period than before with 15% of these reporting substantial improvements. The problems experienced by the elderly in boarding the bus and taking their seats were greatly reduced. However dissatisfaction was expressed at the failure of the drivers to announce bus stops and the survey of bus drivers revealed a matching reluctance on their part to make such announcements. Nevertheless the report finds that, in general, better driver education can lead to improvements in the travelling situation for the elderly. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportforskningsberedningen

  Wennerbergsgatan 10
  Stockholm,   Sweden 
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 53 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Bus drivers; Bus transit; Passenger comfort; Quality of service; Training
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus services
• ITRD Terms: 9148: Before and after study; 1196: Boarding time; 1272: Bus; 1772: Driver; 426: Entrance; 9108: Improvement; 9147: Interview; 653: Level of service; 277: Marketing; 1746: Old people; 744: Public transport; 1388: Seat (veh); 8109: Sweden
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457351
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Report/Paper Numbers: KTB Rapport 1984:29
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:42PM