Analysis of waiting time perception of bus passengers provided with mobile service

Authors

Po-Chieh Wang
Yu-Ting Hsu
Chia-Wei Hsu

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2021

Subject Area

mode - bus, place - asia, planning - surveys, planning - signage/information, technology - intelligent transport systems, ridership - behaviour, ridership - perceptions

Keywords

Smartphone usage, Mobile service, Waiting time perception, Bus passenger behavior, Real-time information

Abstract

Smartphones and relevant mobile service have greatly influenced people’s daily lives, and intense smartphone users can be commonly seen at transit stops/stations, playing with their smartphones while waiting for buses/trains. This research presents a holistic perspective for analyzing the effects of smartphone usage on transit passengers, which also considers the effects at a psychological level. Such effects may be manifested as the reduction of perceived waiting time at stops/stations against the negative emotionality induced by long waiting, such as boredom and tediousness, so as to result in improved travel experience. An on-site survey is designed and implemented over the bus system in Taipei, Taiwan, to collect the revealed responses of bus passengers in regard to waiting time perception and smartphone usage, particularly for travel-irrelevant mobile service. The survey data are modeled and analyzed in both numerical and verbal representation of perceived waiting time by using a multiple linear regression model and a cumulative proportional odds logistic model, respectively. A finite mixture model is further employed to investigate the potential heterogeneity of waiting time perception related to using smartphones for travel-irrelevant mobile service. The analysis results highlight that travel-irrelevant smartphone usage may lead to the reduction of perceived waiting, and the effect can be more significant for young passengers and those without receiving bus arrival information, especially when waiting time is prolonged. Such findings can contribute to the comprehensive consideration of passenger behavior in transit system planning and associated information/service provision strategies.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part A Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Recommended Citation

Wang, P., Hsu, Y., & Hsu, C. (2021). Analysis of waiting time perception of bus passengers provided with mobile service. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 145, pp. 319-336.