Route Guidance Information for Elderly Passengers: Route Naming Methods

摘要

The effect of bus route names on elderly transit riders' route-findingperformance was investigated. Maps and timetables from a typical medium size bus system in Washington State were used in the experimental portion of the study. Thirty-two Bryan-College Station, Texas residents aged 55 or older were asked to plan three different trips using these materials. Very few participants used route names, but rather used route numbers and colors. Participants ranked route names as the least helpful route-finding tool, below color coding and route numbers. Problems encountered by participants indicate that color coding, map detail and the addition of map use examples and/or explicit instructions may be important issues for future investigations.