Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, University of Malta
The instrumental and affective experience
of public transport
Dr Robin Hickman
Bartlett School of Planning
r.hickman@ucl.ac.uk
The topic and key issues
The quality of the public transport journey experience – from the door-to-door and
user perspective – seems critical to the future use of public transport and the
achievement of greater sustainability in travel behaviours. But we often fail to plan
for this ..
The topic and key issues
•
The journey experience includes: the quality of
the journey link and interchange, and the
access at either end of the ‘main’ public transport
journey.
•
Instead of viewing the time spent in travelling as
an inconvenience, and the transport interchange
as ‘a penalty’, perhaps these can be viewed as a
positive experience, as opportunities. The quality
of a journey can hence matter more than its length
and, on occasions, its speed.
•
(Across Europe and North America) the evidence
is that car use has peaked: travellers are
increasingly avoiding congested highways in
favour of high-quality public transport as the
primary mode of travel. But much of this is
dependent on a high quality public transport
experience.
Context: How important?
ROTTERDAM CENTRAAL, THE NETHERLANDS
KING’S CROSS, WESTERN CONCOURSE, LONDON, UK
What matters to the journey experience?
• The internal environment?
• Integration of services?
• Ticketing and information?
• The external environment?
Context: How important?
BEIJING WEST, PRC
SHANGHAI SOUTH, PRC
What matters to the journey experience?
•
How much does this differ by country or city?
• And mode?
Previous literature
The quality of the journey – as part of the ‘seamless journey’:
• Instrumental factors: related to practical aspects of travelling (cost, speed,
convenience of A to B)
• Affective factors: related more to emotions induced by travelling (sense of
independence and control, happiness, enjoyment and affection, lack of ‘stress’)
(Steg, 2005; Anable, J. and Gatersleben, B. 2005; Stradling et al., 2007; Ettema,
2010).
•
•
•
Issues: overlap between? Relative importance? Differ by mode – public
transport relative to others? And context, or type of trip?
Much of previous (conventional) work considers transport in mainly (even
purely) instrumental terms; that travel is a ‘cost’ to be lessened and travel
decisions concerning route choice and mode are based on the rational
weighting of different instrumental factors.
But, from Mokhtarian and Salomon (2001), and others, we can see that travel
can be ‘more than a derived demand’, where travel may, on occasions, have its
own positive utility – and perhaps increasingly so ..
MOKHTARIAN, P. L. & SALOMON, I. 2001. How derived is the demand for travel? Some conceptual and
measurement considerations. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 35, 695-719.
SYNAPTIC
Synergy of New Advanced Public Transport Solutions Improving
Connectivity in North-West Europe
EU INTERREG IVB, 2012-13
EU: International and regional journeys
Journey survey framework/sample:
•
•
•
187 node surveys and 207 link
surveys (from each a journey
audit and survey)
13 surveyors (MSc and PhD
students – from UCL, Aberdeen,
Breda, Wuppertal), carried out
directly for the study.
Analysis reveals journey
satisfaction by spatial context,
assessing where greatest
deficiencies in satisfaction lie, by
link and interchange.
Journeys surveys
The journeys were selected to include:
• The use or need for digital
technologies (home internet, mobile
phones or other applications) to help
access information, plan journeys and
secure tickets, with special reference to
those with less familiarity of new
technologies;
• A range of different physical designs
of vehicles on the journeys, constituting
the seamless-web network (paratransit,
taxis, buses, trams/tram-trains, trains) and
their physical linkages, also with reference
to the mobility needs of elderly people;
• A range of multi-modal PT hubs and
connections on the journeys (physical
infrastructure, ticketing and information);
• Spatial coverage of journeys across
North West Europe.
How do we analyse ‘journey quality’ issues
empirically?
How do we analyse ‘journey quality’ issues
empirically?
QUALITY OF JOURNEY SURVEYS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Form A: User Type and Journey Classification
Form B: Journey Preparation
Form C: Link (Walk, Cycle, Car, Taxi)
Form D: Link (Public Transport)
Form E: (Interchange)
Form F: (Overall Journey)
• Compare ‘expected’ and ‘realised’
service and facilities, to overcome
problem that people assess things
differently
• Assess ‘satisfaction with day’ relative
to journey experience
• RESULT: huge under performance
against expectation
Link (Walk, Cycle, Car, Taxi) (Difference Expected-Realised)
Some expected overlap in
definition – instrumental
contributes to affective (and
vice versa).
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• there is good protection
against the weather (1.83)
• the streetscape is pleasant
(1.08)
• I can pop into the shops (0.88)
• the journey is fun (0.75)
• I feel happy and relaxed (0.7)
• I feel safe and secure on the
journey (0.66)
Instrumental factors fairly well
catered for.
Instrumental
Affective
Link (Bus, Rail, Tram, Ship, Air) (Difference Expected-Realised)
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• Wi-Fi is available and easy to
use (1.07)
• Wi-Fi is free (0.98)
• there is plenty of space for my
bags (0.86)
• I can gain some exercise
(0.86)
• the journey is cheap (0.79)
• the carriage is comfortable
with good seats and space
(0.78)
• I do not feel anxious and
impatent (0.78)
• I can use my time productively
(0.71)
• The carriage is not too noisy
(0.71)
Instrumental factors fairly well
catered for.
Instrumental
Affective
Interchange (Difference Expected-Realised)
A higher level of general
disgruntlement at the
interchange.
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• Wi-Fi is free (2.05)
• Wi-Fi is available ad easy to
use (1.76)
• the electronic timetable
information means I know
where to go (1.54)
• the toilets are clean and
pleasant to use (1.08)
• it is easy to buy a ticket (0.88)
• the interchange is pleasant
(0.86)
• the interchange is attractive
with lots of interest (0.86)
• the signing and waymarking
mean I know where to go
(0.84)
• I can use my time productively
(0.81)
• The signing steers me to the
retail facilities (-0.62)
Instrumental factors fairly well
catered for.
Instrumental
Affective
Commercial
imperative
Interchange (Difference Expected-Realised)
•
The instrumental issues – the ones we conventionally
design for – are realised to a much greater degree than
the affective ‘quality of the journey’ issues.
•
Except, perhaps, in the good practice streets and
interchanges – where this is a strong design element.
•
Some overriding requirements for the whole journey – it
should be cheap and quick (instrumental).
•
But journey needs to be well integrated, little time to
wait; a ticket to cover the whole journey; do not wish to
feel anxious, or rushed; and even to have fun and feel
relaxed (affective).
CASE STUDY: KING’S CROSS WESTERN CONCOURSE , LONDON,
UK
USING GOOD PRACTICE
KING’S CROSS, WESTERN
CONCOURSE, LONDON, UK
JOHN MCASLAN
MALMO: a new shopping street inside the old station –
enclosed and heated in a cold climate. Rail, subway and
bus closely integrated.
DELFT: many of the cities in the Netherlands are having
their central stations redeveloped – these are seen as a
central part of the city design. Some of the architectural
aspirations are world-leading (Mecanoo).
KING’S CROSS, LONDON, UK:
the surrounding masterplan – the
development and linkages – are
also important.
ARGENT
EUROSTAR
The internal journey experience can offer
productivity possibilities – a key advantage
for public transport
EUROSTAR
How might ICT developments help?
Augmented Reality
The internal journey experience can offer
productivity possibilities – a key advantage
for public transport
Chen, C-L, Hickman R. and Saxena, S.
Asian Development Bank, 2013-14
The Current High-Speed
Rail Network
Development Plan in the
PRC
Since 2007,
nearly 10,000
km of HSR lines
have been built
– by 2020 this
will be 18,000
km
HSR hubs and lines that
have been constructed
and are planned in the
PRC for 2011−2015.
13
5.7. GUANGZHOU SOUTH: The design of the railway station is
inspired by traditional Guangdong-style architecture. The roof is
styled in the form of banana leaves, with skylights to allow maximum
daylight into the station.
2.17. BEIJING WEST
2.19. BEIJING WEST: There are often few seats or
waiting facilities for passengers who arrive very
early to allow for queues to access the stations.
2.18. BEIJING SOUTH: There are few areas
where people can sit and look after their
luggage.
2.24. SHANGHAI. The security check, alongside large
passenger volume, causes great delay and
consternation, particularly if the queuing goes beyond the
station building. Security procedures should be reviewed
so that a more efficient system can be adopted. In other
countries, the security check is seldom required, and only
a ticket check is made.
30
Interchange in the PRC (Aggregate)
Smaller disgruntlement scores
to those in Europe – different
cultural expectations, less
expectation against good
practice – which is often
unknown.
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• Wi-Fi is available and free
(1.09)
• there are places to sit and
wait (0.97)
• I can use one ticket for the
door-to-door journey (0.96)
• the hub is not too busy with
other people (0.90)
• Access to the interchange is
easy (0.86)
• there are facilities for people
with disabilities and luggage
(0.84)
• there is little time to wait
(0.81)
Instrumental
Affective
Instrumental factors less well
catered for because of the
scale of stations – and affective
factors not really considered at
all!
Beijing South
Smaller disgruntlement scores
than in Europe – different
cultural expectations, less
expectation against good
practice – which is often
unknown.
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• Wi-Fi is available and free
(1.09)
• there are places to sit and
wait (0.97)
• I can use one ticket for the
door-to-door journey (0.96)
• the hub is not too busy with
other people (0.90)
• Access to the interchange is
easy (0.86)
• there are facilities for people
with disabilities and luggage
(0.84)
• there is little time to wait
(0.81)
Instrumental
Affective
Instrumental factors less well
catered for because of the
scale of stations – and affective
factors not really considered at
all!
Chengdu East
Smaller disgruntlement scores
than in Europe – different
cultural expectations, less
expectation against good
practice – which is often
unknown.
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• Wi-Fi is available and free
(1.09)
• there are places to sit and
wait (0.97)
• I can use one ticket for the
door-to-door journey (0.96)
• the hub is not too busy with
other people (0.90)
• Access to the interchange is
easy (0.86)
• there are facilities for people
with disabilities and luggage
(0.84)
• there is little time to wait
(0.81)
Instrumental
Affective
Instrumental factors less well
catered for because of the
scale of stations – and affective
factors not really considered at
all!
Suzhou North
Smaller disgruntlement scores
than in Europe – different
cultural expectations, less
expectation against good
practice – which is often
unknown.
Largest ‘disgruntlement’
factors:
• Wi-Fi is available and free
(1.09)
• there are places to sit and
wait (0.97)
• I can use one ticket for the
door-to-door journey (0.96)
• the hub is not too busy with
other people (0.90)
• Access to the interchange is
easy (0.86)
• there are facilities for people
with disabilities and luggage
(0.84)
• there is little time to wait
(0.81)
Instrumental
Affective
Instrumental factors less well
catered for because of the
scale of stations – and affective
factors not really considered at
all!
MANOVA Analysis – Difference between stations
Experiential Factors
Instrumental
1 (I) Access to the interchange is easy
2 (I) Walking distance is short
3 (I) There is little time to wait
4 (I) It is quick to buy a ticket
5 (I) I can easily find electronic timetable information
BS
(N=50)
CE
(N=50)
SN
(N=50)
F
statistic
p-value
Significance
0.92
0.68
0.76
0.64
0.52
0.62
0.70
0.64
1.08
0.67
0.87
0.50
3.90
0.05
0.37
0.30
0.022
0.950
0.690
0.738
*
0.60
0.36
0.67
1.32
0.270
6 (I) Signing is clear and easy to understand where to go
0.56
0.48
0.21
2.28
0.106
7 (I) Access to the interchange is convenient and pleasant
0.72
0.46
0.44
1.52
0.222
0.60
1.24
0.00
17.47
0.000
0.78
0.62
0.48
1.00
0.369
0.76
0.30
0.52
3.92
0.022
*
1.28
0.48
0.94
5.85
0.004
**
0.56
0.70
0.42
0.80
0.450
13 (A) There are facilities for people with disabilities and luggage
14 (A) Security check is quick
0.64
0.36
0.60
0.72
0.40
0.27
0.98
2.61
0.376
0.077
Only a few of the interviewees’
17 (A) I am happy with the restaurants
instrumental experiences, but
18 (A) There are facilities for children
19 (A) There are places to sit and wait
most of their affective
20 (A) The toilets are clean and easy to use
experiences, are influenced by
21 (A) Wi-Fi is available and free
22 (A) The architectural design is characteristic and inspiring
the particular interchange hub
23 (A) The hub is not affected by weather
-0.22
-0.32
0.68
0.64
0.71
0.33
10.82
10.05
0.000
0.000
***
***
-0.06
0.88
0.77
8.84
0.000
***
-0.28
0.00
0.15
3.43
0.035
*
1.34
0.32
1.17
12.46
0.000
***
0.56
1.02
0.60
1.02
0.67
0.42
0.20
3.51
0.822
0.032
*
0.00
0.50
0.31
2.24
0.110
0.38
0.66
0.56
1.36
0.259
24 (A) The public realm is attractive and pleasant
0.64
0.48
0.62
0.33
0.717
25 (A) The ambience is nice and comfortable
1.04
0.32
0.48
7.12
0.001
***
26 (A) The staff at the interchange are pleasant and helpful
0.92
0.40
0.81
4.00
0.020
*
27 (A) I can enjoy the view and scenery
28 (A) I can use my time productively
29 (A) I can read or listen to music
30 (A) I feel happy and relaxed
Notes: *p<.05; **p<.01; ***p<.001
0.08
0.68
0.58
0.80
0.38
0.42
0.36
0.32
0.54
0.62
0.23
0.17
2.66
0.77
1.45
6.13
0.074
0.464
0.238
0.003
**
8 (I) I can easily choose my next mode and find its location using the signs
A smaller p-value suggests a
different hub will have a
10 (A) The hub is not too busy with other people
significant influence on the
11 (A) I don’t feel anxious and impatient
12 (A) I can use one ticket for the door-to-door associated
journey
experience.
Affective
9 (A) I feel safe and secure in the hub
15 (A) There is a variety of retail services
16 (A) The shops are interesting
***
Conclusions
•
•
•
•
There is a rapidly increasing demand for travel, with a
need in environmental and city design terms to
accommodate huge growth on the public transport
network
Transport interchanges are often built considering
future passenger projections, and can involve very
large, multi-level spaces, hence at the start of
operation can be large and unwelcoming places to be
Although hubs may be designed well in instrumental
terms they are often less attractive in affective journey
experience terms
Increasing possibilities in electronic interaction, using
mobile phones and tablets, make information access
and entertainment much easier while traveling – there
is much potential to improve the productivity of travel
– and the journey experience.
http://www.adb.org/publications/improving-interchanges-prc
References
CHEN, C.-L., HICKMAN, R. & SAXENA, S. 2014. Improving Interchanges. Towards Better Multimodal Hubs in the PRC.
Manila: Asian Development Bank.
HICKMAN, R., CHEN, C.-L., CHOW, A. & SAXENA, S. 2015. Improving interchanges in China: the experiential
phenomenon Journal of Transport Geography, 42, 175-186.
HICKMAN, R., CHOW, A. & HAMIDUDDIN, I. 2016. improving the affective journey experience, in preparation.
HICKMAN, R., HAMIDUDDIN, I., HOSEA, B., ROBERTS, S., HALL, P., JONES, P. & OSBORNE, C. 2013. Animating the
future seamless public transport journey. Built Environment, 39, 369-384.
MOKHTARIAN, P. L. & SALOMON, I. 2001. How derived is the demand for travel? Some conceptual and measurement
considerations. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 35, 695-719.
STRADLING, S. G., ANABLE, J. & CARRENO, M. 2007. Performance, importance and user disgruntlement: A six-step
method for measuring satisfaction with travel modes. Transportation Research, Part A, 41, 98-106.
An animated view: A European journey in 2030?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla
yer_embedded&v=AZnA5RlRAlY