Changing behavior isn?t just about cost or convenience?the way we make transportation decisions is irrational In most places in the U.S., transit ridership has dipped in recent years, even as cities invest in massive expansions of their rail and bus systems. While transportation planners attempt to address the situation, one factor will make their jobs harder: Choosing or forgoing public transit isn't always a rational decision.
That?s according a new report out today by Conduent (the former business process services arm of Xerox that split from the company earlier this year) which surveyed urban-dwelling transportation users in 23 cities across 15 countries, hoping to learn what makes people embrace public transit over other modes of travel. ?Providing more choices in line with our personal situations is key to changing behavior,? says Don Hubicki, executive vice president at Conduent. ?People primarily focus on their individual situation, factoring in speed, comfort and cost when determining how they?d like to travel.?
But as the report shows, besides just offering options, cities need to provide incentives for modes that are better for the environment, their health, and fellow citizens, giving people good reasons to switch. Otherwise people will just stick with what they know.
If you have better information, like knowing ahead of time about a delay on your driving route or seeing when your bus will arrive in real-time, you adjust your expectations.
Just how irrati...