[sustran] Re: Achieving Modal Shift - Market Research - another thought

[Piotr Olszewski (Assoc Prof)]

Dear Alan,

 

You bring up a very important point - and I agree that this area is rather neglected.

 

Here in Singapore we are conducting a research study on walking accessibility to public transport. While the public transport here is generally of a high standard, getting to an MRT station often requires quite an effort. We hope to develop a method of measuring this effort and to examine the effect on modal split of factors such as the number of steps to climb, walkway quality, exposure to traffic, etc.

 

So far, a pilot survey shows that the most important factors influencing peoples' walking decisions (apart from the distance) are: provision of rain shelters (not surprising in the tropics), having to climb stairs and delay at pedestrian crossings. A bigger survey is planned for later this year.

 

If anybody is conducting a similar research (or knows about it) - I would be glad to hear from them.

 

Regards,

-------------------------------------

Piotr Olszewski   colsze at ntu.edu.sg

Nanyang Technological University

Singapore

 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Alan Howes [mailto:Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk] 
	Sent: Wed 8/20/2003 7:25 PM 
	To: sustran-discuss at jca.apc.org 
	Cc: 
	Subject: [sustran] Achieving Modal Shift - Market Research - another thought
	
	

	[Re-sending now I am properly subscribed again!]
	
	A further point on the above -
	
	I'm now using public transport regularly for the first time in about 30 years. One of the things I find most annoying is the journey on foot to and from the station.
	
	Edinburgh is quite a good place to be a pedestrian. But nevertheless, if you are hurrying for a train, problem #1 is narrow footways, obstructed by bus shelters / tourists / slow walkers.
	
	Problem #2 is probably more widely felt - if it's wet, walking near the kerb carries a high risk of being soaked as (mainly) buses splash through puddles. Then there's uneven paving, lack of pedestrian crossing facilities, etc.
	
	But none of the research I have seen so far seems to look at this aspect - how much people are put off public transport by the pedestrian experience at either end.
	
	(I consider the pluses, e.g. view of Edinburgh Castle, or at the other end the trees and the birdsong, to be ample compensation - but others may think differently.)
	
	Cheers, Alan
	
	
	--
	Alan Howes
	Associate Transport Planner
	Colin Buchanan and Partners
	
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