Focus Group Interviews Employed in the Research Analysing Young Adults’ Behaviour on the Market of Alternative Means of City Transport

Abstract

Shared transportation, directly corresponding to research on the sharing economy, is an important issue, directly linked with the issue of city transport, as well as that of alternative transport when analysed from a broader perspective. Forms of alternative city transport may be classified into two basic groups, different in terms of the manner in which they use their shared vehicles. It is either ride-sourcing or vehicle-sourcing (further broken down to car-sharing, bike-sharing and scooter-sharing). All the above-specified forms require access to a mobile app or a website and, consequently, some Internet and app-using skills, so it is obvious that they are predominantly used by young people. The fact prompted the author to research consumer behaviour in the sharing economy area among young people, who are regular users of the public transport available in Krakow. The research was conducted on a group of 96 respondents using qualitative method (FGI). The objective of the research was to identify the factors which determine some specific mobile behaviours in young adults in the area of alternative forms of the public transport, as well as identification of these forms of transport which are preferred and most popular among users. With all certainty, alternative forms of transport represent an attractive transportation offer addressed to young people, complementing the city transport system. Young people pointed to the particular importance of hedonistic factors prevailing n their choices, as they particularly appreciated reaching their destination in a fast, pleasant and comfortable anner, as well as the feeling of independence and freedom. However, alternative transport was certainly not hosen for reasons related to the environmental protection or economic aspects.