Cain – ARE PRINTED TRANSIT INFORMATION MATERIALS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO TRANSIT USE 2007

Description

This study examined whether inability to use printed transit information limits transit use. Using a convenience sample of 180 Tampa Bay residents who completed two trip-planning tasks requiring a system map, route maps, and schedules, researchers found only 52.5% of assignments were completed successfully. Early stages—locating origin/destination and selecting routes—were largely successful (over 90% and 73% respectively), but schedule-related stages (selecting correct schedule sections and times) had only a 55.6% success rate and accounted for most errors. Although printed materials remain a popular source, many transit users rely on alternatives (helplines, drivers, experience). Nonusers cited car access and lack of convenient service—not trip-planning difficulty—as primary reasons for avoiding transit. Participation raised confidence in two-thirds of respondents and some stated intentions to use transit more, but stated intent may not reflect real behavior. The authors conclude schedule comprehension is a significant usability issue worth design improvements, though it is not the main barrier to transit use.