TecnEcon – WEST YORKSHIRE PASSENGER TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE – BUS TIMETABLE RESEARCH 1993

Description

In October 1993 TecnEcon reported on a West Yorkshire PTE review of Metro bus timetables prompted by DIPTAC accessibility guidance. A hall‑based survey in Leeds and Bradford (13–14 Sept) exceeded its 150 interview target, yielding 184 responses (138 recent bus users, 46 irregular/non‑users). Key aims were to test timetable use, colour, size, print/layout, route presentation and 12‑ vs 24‑hour time formats. Findings: over two‑thirds had travelled by bus within a week; 33% owned Metro timetables (mean 5.3), mostly kept at home and regarded as quite/very useful. Although 76.6% liked the current red‑on‑white print, many (54.9%) thought another scheme—especially black on white—would be easier to read. Despite DIPTAC recommending A5, 64.1% preferred the existing smaller A6. Layout preferences were mixed: a slight majority favored the current return‑journey format; 41.8% preferred a composite line delineation (thick after every third line); almost 87% favored some diagrammatic route representation (detailed map or text+schematic) over full written descriptions. A majority (55.4%) preferred 24‑hour times.