Whelan – PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLICITY 1993

Description

Trevor Whelan’s 1993 diploma project assesses printed public-transport publicity, arguing that timetables alone are insufficient and that information must cover all journey stages: initial awareness, option assessment, timetables, departure points, in-transit guidance and destination details. Post-1986 deregulation fragmented information provision, prompting many county councils to produce comprehensive guides. Alternatives—telephone bureaux, enquiry offices and emerging IT (teletext, Prestel, Journey Planner, real-time displays like Countdown)—offer value but are costly and must justify investment. Market research found many passengers (including elderly users) can use 24-hour timetables, yet a notable minority struggle to extract basic details and awareness of local publications can be low. The report endorses design standards (DiPTAC), better cartography and coordinated publicity. Key recommendations include statutory coordination of information, fixed annual timetable revision dates with limited bus changes, minimum timetable standards with incentives, and industry leadership or shared cartographic resources to improve reliability and customer confidence. Appendices illustrate late-1980s/early-1990s timetable samples, maps, panels, surveys and publicity materials.