Passenger Requirements and Ergonomics in Public Transport

Abstract

The basic requirements and comfort parameters of users of public transport are discussed with reference to results of some recent field investigations. The needs for city transport were found to consist of primary service associated with time saving and convenience, informational clarity, physical requirements, and environmental factors. The priorities of such needs were variable according to the purpose of travelling, such as commuting, visiting, shopping. business, and others; and also to the users' occupations. The comfort of passengers riding a train was shown to be composed mainly of postural, mental, and microenvironmental components, to which differences in the class, journey purpose, car-type, and age of passengers significantly contributed. Comfort was also dependent on the journey length, changing at around 3 hours from the journey start. A field experiment showed that physiological responses and discomfort scores of passengers were remarkably enhanced when the crowding exceeded a certain limit, over which transport planning to avoid crowding would be a primary need. It is thus necessary to meet the dynamic needs of passengers, taking into account also discomfort resulting from newly mechanized systems. Satisfaction des besoins des voyageurs et ergonomie des transports en commun. Anforderungen der Fahrgäste und Ergonomie im öffenlichen Transport.