2008
Social Interaction Aboard Public Transportation
Dustin Vicent
ENGL 1102 H
3/24/2008
Abstract
The interaction of people aboard public transportation is an intriguing subject. The purpose of this
report was to draw conclusions about how passengers interact while riding on public transportation; in
this case, the Valdosta State University Shuttle system. The method of observation was to ride along on
the shuttle system for one hour, observing and recording any interactions or activities among the other
passengers. The data collected led to several unexpected conclusions.
Key Words: Public transportation, Social interaction, Valdosta State University Shuttle system,
Demographics, Keitai.
Introduction
The public transportation system and the complexities of the interactions of people have been on the
forefront of public opinion many times throughout history. The most impressive and memorable
example for most is the stand by Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1960’s. In this case, the public transportation system and the interaction of people
merged to form one of the most controversial periods in our country’s history. Yet through the efforts
of those involved in this movement, a completely new way of thinking about public transportation and
the passengers who use it was created. Armed with the information gained from this investigation and
the research compiled by leading authorities in the field of sociology and the public transportation
system, this study aims to do nothing less.
The Procedure
To begin the observation, I watched the Valdosta State University Shuttle system for several days to
determine at what time of day was the largest flow of passengers. Once this was determined, the next
step was to become a passenger myself. Taking a seat in the very rear of the shuttle (in order to have
the best vantage point of all the passengers), I took on the role as a typical passenger.
During the observation, I remained detached from rest of the passengers; not speaking unless spoken
to, not reacting to anything that was going on inside the shuttle. For exactly one hour, the actions and
interactions of every passenger that boarded the shuttle were recorded for later interpretation and
analysis.
The Data
By watching the VSU Shuttle system for the several days preceding the observation project, I concluded
the most active flow of passengers was from approximately the 12:00 to 1:00 PM time frame. The hour
of observation produced a plethora of data. During this period, a total of 116 passengers boarded the
shuttle. Twelve stops were made during the allotted time during which there was a maximum boarding
party of seventeen and a minimum of two. Of the 116, twenty one made or accepted a phone call at
some point during transit; eight carried a conversation over the phone for the entirety of the shuttle
transit. Seventy five passengers performed some activity with their cell phone; activities ranged from
text messaging (vast majority), accessing the internet, to playing games. Fourteen read some form of
text. Forty one spoke to another passenger; twelve continued a conversation during their ride aboard
the shuttle. Many passengers performed multiple tasks, such as text messaging while speaking with
another passenger. Nineteen passengers had no activity at all.
140
120
100
Total Passengers
Talked on Cell
80
Activity with Cell
60
Read
Spoke to Others
40
No Activity
20
0
Number of Passengers
Outside Studies
Several studies have been conducted by the leading authorities in the fields of public transportation and
sociology concerning the benefits of the interactions of passengers aboard public transportation.
Through multiple studies, PublicTransportation.org stated that “Public transportation…increases social
interaction…and encourages social activities” (Facts). A study performed by Frank Goetzke of the
University of Louisville concluded, “Positive network effects exist when people prefer to use transit
together with other people as a result of social spill-over” (Goetzke). Both of these studies claim public
transportation is beneficial to social welfare.
Findings
Through the observations of this study, it is clear that social interaction is a definite part of public
transportation. Over 35% of the subjects in this test communicated to another passenger during the
hour of observation. But it was the vast number of passengers operating a cell phone during the test
period that was the most striking. Nearly 70% performed some type of cell phone activity during transit.
The amount of cell phone usage doubled that of interpersonal communication.
Study Limitations
The foremost limitation in this study was the observation time of one hour. To get a better sample of
data, longer or multiple observation periods should be utilized. The second limitation to this study was
that of the localized area it was performed. The demographics of such a restricted region are too
narrow to draw a definitive conclusion. Because the sociologic subject of this study is so broad, a larger
test group of multiple locations nationwide would have to be implemented in order for this study to be
conclusive on a large scale.
Conclusion
It is undeniable the findings of this study do to some degree support the position of the leading
authorities in the fields concerning interaction of people aboard public transportation. Taking
advantage of public transportation does seem to foster an ample amount of social interaction. But
there was an unexpected observation that is responsible for the most relevant topic. The fact that cell
phone usage was by far the most common activity aboard the Valdosta State University Shuttle system,
doubling that of any social interaction, shows several things. First, the fast paced society that we now
live in has essentially self-induced people’s increasing reliance upon new technology in the form of
cellular devices. Second, the need…the desire of interpersonal communication in the form of simple
conversation has decreased due to this dependence of real-time cellular communication. I theorize that
if each passenger aboard that shuttle had not possessed any type of cellular device, the statistics of
those who initiated conversation with a fellow passenger would have tripled.
If public transportation is to continue to offer social interaction as one of its benefits, new rules for
cellular usage while in transit must be made. In Japan, such actions have already been implemented.
According to Japanese ordinance, keitai (mobile phone) usage in many public places, especially public
transportation, is strictly prohibited. In Japanese culture, even speaking on a keitai in a public place is
considered extremely rude (Okabe). There was a time here in our country when the same was true of
our culture. When in America did the disturbance of cell phones in the confines of public transportation
become acceptable? Perhaps it is when culture could not keep up with the no-holds-bar society we
have chosen to be a part of. Regulate the excess of cell phone activity in transit, and social interaction
will once again flourish aboard American public transportation.
Works Cited
Facts on Public Transportation. American Public Transportation Association. 19 Feb 2008.
<http://www.publictransportation.org/facts/>.
Goetzke, Frank. “Network Effects in Public Transit Use: Evidence from a Spatially Autoregressive Mode
Choice Model for New York.” Urban Studies Journal Limited Vol. 45, No. 2 (2008): 407-417.
Okabe, Daisuke, and Mizuko Ito. “Keitai in Public Transportation.” Japan Media Review 26 July 2006. 19
March 2008 <http://www.japanmediareview.com/japan/stories/060726okabeito/>.