Does Real-time Transit Information Increase Ridership?
There's no question in my mind that real-time transit information (bus and train arrival and departure times) increases customer satisfaction. I wondered, though, if there have been any studies about whether it increases utilization of public transit.
- I threw the question out to twitter:
- The results are thinner than I'd hoped for. Apparently @OneBusAway did a survey of their customer base, which showed a huge increase in satisfaction, and a small potential increase in utilization. However, it's a self-selected group, not statistically significant, and self-reported. I was hoping for actual ridership statistics from a transit agency.
@timoreilly @JN_Seattle Here is one study conducted by the creators of @OneBusAway: cs.washington.edu/homes/borning/…- Tim Moore reported that at @sfbart, they have no data on ridership impact. I'm hoping that they will start collecting it. Jay Nath asks a good question: if a transit system has good on-time performance, does real-time data matter as much as just publishing the scheduled time? (I know I'm pretty happy with the BART scheduled time I get in Google Maps; it's usually close enough.)
@Jay_Nath @timoreilly @digiphile At @sfbart it was shown only to improve perception about on-time performance. No data on ridership impacts
@timomio do u think this is b/c BART is different than urban transit that often r not on schedule? @timoreilly @digiphile @sfbart- If anyone has more information on the following UK studies, particularly links to them, I'd appreciate it.
@timoreilly 20 yrs ago Sheffield study showed main determinant was frequency. Don't care if I know next train in 45 mins; can drive in less.
@timoreilly I believe London Transit did such a study over 15 years ago before they put Next Bus signs at all bus stops.
@timoreilly in London we are getting at bus stop signs showing next 30 mins worth of buses. Cost justification based on something? I hope.- I got a number of suggestions for people who might know more. However, none of them have yet weighed in on the question.
@timoreilly @participatory & @bethnoveck might know about research on access to transit data bit.ly/lyg9de & ridership. #gov20- @timhibbard? RT @timoreilly: Wondering if anyone has studied whether access to real time transit schedules affect ridership
@timoreilly I have always wondered this. Let me ask some people about before and after transit tracking in chi- And, of course, some anecdotal evidence from satisfied customers, which I include for the references to specific transit apps that people might find useful.
@timoreilly No formal study but my personal experience: I ride the bus since CTA Bus Tracker (phone/SMS)
@timoreilly Considering I'd've missed a lot of Unitrans W busses if it werent for "AnyStop" on my Android phone, yes, it increases ridership
@timoreilly I use #tfl 's countdown all the time, has definitely made buses a more enjoyable tool for getting around. :)
