PRIVATE TIME ON PUBLIC TRANSIT: DIMENSIONS OF INFORMATION AND TELECOMMUNICATION USE OF CHICAGO TRANSIT RIDERS

摘要

The variety of activities one can engage in while traveling are thought to give some utility to thetrip, and this has implications for mode choice and customer satisfaction if the chosen mode istransit. In particular, use of information and telecommunication devices allows riders to stayconnected and may thus improve their perception and rating of their transit experience. Aneconometric analysis of responses to a survey of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train riderssuggests that activity participation (particularly ICT use), environmental attitudes, and proximityto destination are all significant predictors of whether an individual would consider riding transitin Chicago as "a better use of time and/or money than driving". Further models relateinformation and communication activity engagement on board transit vehicles to the riders'attributes and trip characteristics. The strong preference of individuals under 30 for audio/visualand cell phone use, compared to the preference among older individuals for reading, suggestsevolving factors to consider in designing and marketing a total transit experience. The workpresented in this paper provides insight into an emerging phenomenon in the realm ofcommunication-transportation interaction.