Irwin – BUS PASSENGER INFORMATION 1986

Description

This TSU review, part of the ‘‘Managing Information: Provision for Passengers in the Bus Industry’’ project, argues that passenger information must be integrated with overall service design, marketing and accessibility rather than treated as an isolated variable. Empirical studies show improved information can raise patronage and revenue, often transiently, but effects depend on operator strategy, local context and service attributes. The paper stresses travel as a derived demand shaped by habit, perception and knowledge; information can broaden perceived opportunities, aid learning, and influence modal choice—especially among occasional or ‘‘dormant’’ users and non-users. Effective provision requires market segmentation, targeted promotion, and system design that enhances usability (scheduling, fares, ticketing, interchange). High-technology solutions (real-time displays, electronic systems) offer benefits but face financial, social and institutional constraints. The author recommends explicit policy objectives and performance indicators—patronage, maintainability, revenue, comprehension, confidence, efficiency and expanded spatial/social accessibility—to evaluate information strategies within broader planning and equity goals.