Chang, Morahan, Rive, Thomas and Crooks – CUSTOMERS REQUIREMENTS OF MULTI MODAL TRAVEL INFORMATION SYSTEMS 2013

Description

This NZ Transport Agency–commissioned study (Nov 2012–Jun 2013) used literature review, focus groups and a national online survey (N=1,319) to define customer needs and best practice for multimodal travel information. Users strongly prefer high-quality, timely, accurate real-time data—especially congestion, incidents, roadworks, closures, travel times, parking and freight restrictions—and want single, customisable multimodal journey planners accessible via multiple media (web, smartphone, radio, VMS, phone/print for low‑tech users). Acceptance depends on ease of use, trust and perceived usefulness. Information can change departure time, route or mode; most respondents were willing to share data, though crowdsourcing raises coverage, cost and quality concerns. Barriers include low awareness, limited tech/rural coverage, habitual behaviour and perceived costs. Recommendations: pilot real-time multimodal services in larger centres, develop freight-specific routing/amenity info, create route- and mode-comparison tools, implement rural strategies, and establish data standards, privacy protocols and clarified public–private roles with controlled crowdsourcing trials.