Abstract
Encouraging the younger generation to use public transport can revolutionise the way that citizens commute in the future; hence, municipalities must provide good public transport services to encourage their use. A free bus service was introduced in Penang, Malaysia, to support the sustainable agenda and to provide transport for low-income groups. However, the lack of ridership resulted in the service being far from achieving its target. This study assessed young adults’ perceptions of the current free bus service in Penang to design a strategy to attract them to use the free bus. In this study, six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with young adults aged between 18 and 25 years old studying in three different higher institutions located along the route of the free bus. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis, in which four areas were identified—free service, reliability, information provision, and attractive service. Finally, this paper provides valuable input on initiatives to further encourage young adults to use the free bus service in Penang.
Highlights
The increasing concerns on climate change have prompted the implementation of policies aimed at reducing transport pollution
This study does not represent the entire population of young adults in Penang, and instead focuses on the students that wanted to share their thoughts on the free bus service
All participants perceived that the free bus service was good
Summary
The increasing concerns on climate change have prompted the implementation of policies aimed at reducing transport pollution. 2040, accounted for by the transportation sector due to the increase in population size and number of motor vehicles, expediting the exhaustion of resources and global warming [2]. This issue can be overcome by increasing the use of public transport, especially in the urban areas. Despite considerable improvements in the system, the modal share of public transport trips continues to be consistently lower than that of private cars, prompting transit agencies to consider better policies with regard to the use of public transport. Have you seen the central area transit (CAT) bus in this area? What do you know about the CAT service provided by Rapid Penang?
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