McKenzie – AN ASSESSMENT OF THE UTILITY OF BUS STOP INFORMATION 1986

Description

This Transport Studies Unit working paper reports a 1985–86 bus stop interview survey in Aberdeen, Oxford and the West Midlands (1,832 interviews: 667 Aberdeen, 341 Oxford, 824 West Midlands) assessing the utility of bus stop information (timetables, fares and location names). Sites were chosen to reflect differing operating contexts: Aberdeen (municipal, high-frequency radial, exact fares), Oxford (mixed frequencies, change given) and the multi‑nucleated West Midlands (WMPTE, high travelcard use and a route enhancement programme). Interviewer‑administered questionnaires probed perceived usefulness and knowledge of scheduled times. Key findings: 64.9% overall found timetable displays useful (older passengers less likely; no gender difference); stops with timetables showed higher passenger knowledge of scheduled times in Aberdeen and pooled data, and conventional matrix displays outperformed “times-from-this-stop” formats. Fare information was considered useful by 48.1% (more so in Aberdeen than Oxford), again declining with age. In the West Midlands 66.8% found stop location names useful, comparable to timetable usefulness. Authors caution responses likely overestimate true benefit but indicate bus‑stop information is an important component meriting further study.