London Buses Ltd – MAPS AND TIMETABLES AT BUS STOPS 1999

Description

A May 1999 study at seven London bus stops used 510 hours of covert video, 553 interviews and boarding counts to examine use of maps, timetables and posters. Video captured 3,506 people consulting 4,457 information items (1.3 items per user); observers recorded 22,103 boardings on 7,318 buses (≈3 boardings per bus). Timetables on the bus post were the most used source (≈75–78% where present); shelter posters were less consulted (≈27–29%), though a night-stop poster was used by 63% of users there. Average viewing time was ~30 seconds (35s for shelter posters, 26s for posts). Primary reasons for consulting information were which bus to catch (47%), when the next bus is due (30%), where the bus goes (24%) and route number (22%). Most users found information easy to read and useful, though the ‘Your Local Bus Map’ was least helpful for many. Non-use was mainly due to route familiarity (81%). Information use rose at weekends and fell at busier stops; 46% of viewers boarded at that stop.