Bus Commuters Research Articles

Nonlinear relationships of commuting and built environments surrounding residences and workplaces with obesity

Obesity is a prominent risk contributor to health. However, few studies have explored the nonlinear relationships between commuting and built environments, particularly around workplaces, with obesity. Based on a sample of 1080 respondents in Shanghai, China, we used the gradient-boosting decision trees model to investigate the relative contributions and nonlinear relationships of commuting and built environments surrounding residences and workplaces with body mass index (BMI). Results showed that the built environment made greater contributions to BMI than sociodemographics and behavioral attributes. The built environment around workplaces was more important than that around residences, and commuting behavior rather than exercise or food intake contributed more. Gender and age were the most important predictors among all predictors. Moreover, most predictors were nonlinearly related to BMI. Car and bus commuters had higher BMI. Commuting distance (<20 km) was positively related to BMI and the duration of active modes (<20 min) was negatively associated with BMI. Around workplaces, green space (<0.28 km2) and population density (10,000–28,000 people/km2) had negative associations with BMI. Land use diversity around workplaces (>0.5) had a U-shaped relationship with BMI and the threshold was 0.78, but it around residences (0.82–0.85) had a positive effect. A longer distance to the subway station from residences (<1500 m) was associated with lower BMI. Men had higher BMI and age (24–47 years) was positively correlated with BMI. Beyond the thresholds, these predictors had limited contributions to BMI. We concluded that prioritizing interventions in the built environment around workplaces and commuting behavior to reach effective thresholds is important to reduce obesity.

Comparative analysis of particle exposure in commuters: Evaluating different modes of transportation in Tehran

Daily commuting significantly contributes to the overall exposure to particulate matter (PM) in urban areas, underscoring the need to understand the factors influencing PM exposure. This study assessed personal exposure levels and inhalation doses of PM2.5, and PM10 across various transportation modes in Tehran, Iran. The study included buses, open-window taxis, subways, walking, and cycling for over 125 trips. Data were collected during the morning and evening peak hours using low-cost sensors, with an average trip distance of 7.50 km. On average, buses exhibited the highest mean PM2.5 concentration (25.0 μgm3), followed by subways (17.0 μgm3), taxis (14.4 μgm3), cycling (13.5 μgm3), and walking (8.80 μgm3). Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong relationship between traffic volume and PM concentrations in taxi and bus modes (r = 0.78 and 0.56, respectively). Subway commuters experienced the lowest PM2.5 inhalation dose (2.50 μg), whereas bus commuters experienced the highest (6.20 μg). Pedestrians had the highest average inhalation dose of PM2.5 with 20.7 μg due to longer trip durations. The daily average PM2.5 levels in all transportation modes exceeded the WHO thresholds by 1.60 times. These findings offer crucial insights into personal exposure concentrations among commuters and serve as a basis for effective air quality management plans and broader global investigations of air pollution.

Commuter exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs), lung deposited surface area (LDSA), and noise in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

IntroductionTransport is a main contributor to air and noise pollution, particularly in urban areas with the high number of motorized vehicles. Promoting active transport (i.e., cycling and walking) and public transport is an instrumental factor in reducing traffic-related air and noise pollution. However, commuters of these transport modes are often exposed to high air and noise pollution than other commuter groups. MethodsThe levels of exposure to UFP, LDSA, and noise during commuting of different transport modes in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) were measured and compared. Then, the dose of inhaled pollutants during commuting was calculated for each commuter group by considering the travel time and minute ventilation. ResultsThe level of exposure to air and noise pollution varies across transport modes. Cyclists and motorcyclists were exposed to the highest level of air and noise pollution. Motorcyclists and cyclists were exposed to the highest UFP number concentrations during their trips, 3.6*105 and 3.1*105 particles/cm3, respectively. Car commuters were exposed to the lowest air and noise pollution level, followed by bus commuters. When considering the minute ventilation and travel time, cyclists inhaled significantly higher levels of air pollution than other commuters, followed by pedestrians, motorcyclists, bus commuters, and car users. As a result, the health impacts of exposure to traffic-related air and noise pollution for active commuters could be greater than other commuter groups. ConclusionsPromoting active and public transport is a promising approach to improving air quality and reducing congestion in HCMC. Using these transport modes also has potential positive health effects on commuters through physical activities. However, active commuters are faced with the highest risk of exposure to high air and noise pollution levels. To promote active transport and public transport in HCMC, measures to reduce the level of exposure to air and noise pollution for these commuter groups are needed.

Stressors for bus commuters and ways of improving bus journeys

Based on the people-environment conceptual framework, this paper measures the level of transport stress experienced by bus commuters and examines its relationship with a wide range of environmental and personal stressors, as well as different stress responses. A total of 28 environmental stressors, 9 personal stressors, 4 time-related stressors and 6 stated stress responses are examined. The data were collected through a large-scale online questionnaire survey among bus commuters of a major franchised bus company in Hong Kong (n = 5,908). A factor analysis and a structural equation model (SEM) are conducted to unveil the interlinkages among bus-related environmental stressors, personal stressors, travel characteristics, perceived transport stress and stated stress responses. Results indicate that bus commuters reported an average stress level of 47.10 out of 100 (SD = 29.50). The average transport stress level is lower than money, work and family stress but higher than relationship stress. Spatially, there are great variations within the city, with notably higher stress levels for some new towns in Northwest New Territories and the central business district during evening commutes. Based on the SEM results, the number of bus transfers (β = 0.05) and travel time (β = 0.06) are strongly associated with transport stress. Poor bus stop environment (β = 0.14), crowding at bus stops and compartments (β = 0.13), hostile attitudes of passengers and drivers (β = 0.08), and unreliable waiting and travel time (β = 0.08) are important environmental stressors. Many of these factors have not been closely examined in previous studies. In relation to health, transport stress is positively associated with negative physical (β = 0.43) and emotional (β = 0.48) responses. Feeling exhausted, irritated and anxiety were the most commonly reported responses to transport stress. To enhance bus commutes, priorities should be given to improving the bus stop environment, reducing crowding throughout the bus journeys, and alleviating road congestion. Overall, the empirical findings from this large-scale study on transport stress can help governments to formulate targeted measures to enhance the quality of public transit services and to support sustainable urban transport.

Real-time evolution characteristics and potential reactions of contaminants in commuter bus cabin air

Despite the increasing use of motor vehicles, the impact of airborne pollutants and their health risks inside public transportation, such as commuter buses, is not well understood. This study assessed air quality inside an urban commuter bus by continuously monitoring PM10, PM2.5, and CO concentrations during both driving and parking periods. Our findings revealed that the ventilation system of the bus significantly reduced the infiltration of outdoor particulate matter and water vapor. However, CO concentrations were considerably higher inside the bus than outside, primarily due to vehicular self-emission. The ineffection of the ventilation system to remove CO potentially increases long-term exposure risks for passengers. The study identified ozone as a key oxidant in the cabin. Besides vehicle emissions, C3-C10 saturated aldehydes and carbonyl compounds were detected, including acetone, propanal, and hexanal. The presence of 6-MHO, an oxidation product of squalene, suggests that passengers contribute to VOCs load through direct emissions or skin surface reactions. Additionally, human respiration was found to significantly contribute to isoprene levels, estimated at 81.7 %. This research underscores the need for further investigation into the cumulative effects of stable compounds in cabin air and provides insights for developing healthier public transportation systems.

Quantum entanglement and self-attention neural networks: An investigation into passengers and stops characteristics for optimal bus stop localization

Urban transportation significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, thus emphasizing the importance of green and efficient alternatives like public transportation. Enhancing the appeal of public transport through the strategic placement of bus stops can mitigate carbon emissions concurrently. This research proposes a Quantum Entangled Self-Attention Neural Networks (QESANN) model that considers both the passengers and stops characteristics to optimize bus stop locations. The QESANN model integrates the complexity of the relationship between passengers and bus stops characteristics, thereby fostering a more holistic approach to bus stop placement. It uses a Conditional Random Field (CRF) to initialize and process the attributes of both commuters and bus stops through quantum entanglement. The Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) model is employed to gage the variation in bus carbon emissions pre and post bus stop location optimization. Simulation tests, conducted via the Anylogic software and the IBM Quantum platform, demonstrated promising results. Over a yearly travel cycle for 1,000 individuals, the number of bus commuters rose from 322 to 651, concurrently reducing urban traffic carbon emissions by 430,243.70 kg annually. These findings affirm the effectiveness of the proposed QESANN model in enhancing the appeal of bus stops, reducing carbon emissions from urban transportation, and fostering a more sustainable urban environment.

Procurement hurdles: unveiling challenges in the subsidized commuter bus sector of Gauteng, South Africa

In South Africa, like many developing countries, procurement is seen and used as a strategic tool to promote socioeconomic development, including the promotion of competition, among other objectives. The South African commuter bus industry is structured to procure – through competitive tendering – SMMEs within the industry’s mainstream. These contracts are subsidized by the government – their origins date back to the 1940s – to ease the financial burden on black African communities. However, since its establishment, some challenges are hindering the effective procurement of these services, thus affecting the provision of these services. This paper highlights the challenges faced by Gauteng Province in the procurement of subsidised commuter services. The paper employs a mixed-methods research approach, and the research instrument was a face-to-face semi-structured interview questionnaire. Based on the findings of the study, Gauteng commuter bus industry operations are challenged with poor policy implementation, a lack of funds to support the industry’s operational needs, and a deficiency in administrative skills, among other challenges. The paper recommends that the Gauteng government revisit the guiding policies for the establishment of the industry and employ the best procurement practice(s) for this industry, considering the complex nature of South Africa (being influenced by the apartheid era and the government is faced with maintaining a balance between the blacks and the whites among citizens).

Alliance or Independence? Optimal Operation of Commuter Buses by Suburban Employers Based on Cooperative Game Theory

To reduce commuting expenses incurred by suburban employers and their urban employees, this paper proposes the operation of commuter buses by an employer alliance and builds a bi-level programming model to optimize their operation. The upper model determines the composition of the alliance with the objective of minimizing total commuting expenses. The lower model optimizes the commuter bus routes so as to minimize the total commuting expenses of the alliance through a consideration of differences in the value of employees’ time. We fairly allocate total operating costs among alliance members based on cooperative game theory, which reinforces the optimized alliance’s stability. This paper then takes Meishan District in Ningbo as a numerical case study. The analysis shows the following: (1) under the alliance model, the total commuting expenses of three allied employers will be reduced by 8.09% per day; (2) the total commuting time of employees can be reduced by 3.75% per day; moreover, (3) the spatial distribution of the bus stops has a significant impact on employers’ willingness to participate in an alliance as opposed to operating an independent commuter bus service. Specifically, the farther dispersed the bus stops and the fewer the employees at each stop, the greater the likelihood that the employer will participate in an alliance.

Commuters opinion on public transport services in mega cities: the case of Istanbul buses

Using public transport is an important part of daily routine of many people in large cities and consumes considerable time and financial resources. Enhancing public transport can help in encouraging less use of privately owned motor vehicles and, therefore, in emitting less greenhouse gases. Hence, there is a need to improve public transport and make it more attractive than private motor vehicles. This study aims to assess commuters opinion on several aspects related to using public buses in Istanbul with the ultimate aim of making them more attractive than private motor vehicles. A total of 620 randomly selected bus commuters responded to a questionnaire specially prepared for this purpose. Satisfaction rates with most aspects related to public buses were found to be high. Nevertheless, non-parametric test results revealed that female commuters recorded significantly lower satisfaction rates than male commuters on many aspects related to public buses. Results also revealed that a significant minority of commuters walk for long distances to the nearest bus stop or wait for very long times for the next bus to come. Moreover, results revealed that commuters of older ages and higher income levels recorded significant higher satisfaction rates than others. Results also show that the majority of commuters support increasing bus fees during peak hours in order to minimize crowdedness during these hours. Implications of these results for decision makers in megacities on ways to encourage the use of public buses are discussed at the end.

Intermodal comparison of commuters' exposure to VOCs between public, private, and active transportation.

Urban populations are exposed to a multitude of traffic-related air pollutants during daily commutes. This study assessed commuters' exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during bus, motorcycle, and bicycle commuting, and estimated the VOC inhalation dose. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) were the main compounds detected, contributing 58 - 68% to ΣVOC (sum of the concentrations of all detected VOCs) in different travel modes. The mean ΣVOC exposure concentration was higher for motorcyclists than for cyclists and bus commuters. However, due to cyclists' higher minute ventilation rates and longer exposure time, they had the highest ΣVOC inhalation dose based on both travel time (7.09 ± 2.36μgmin-1) and distance (32.9 ± 10.8μgkm-1). Among the three travel modes, bus commuters had the lowest ΣVOC inhalation dose based on travel time (2.33 ± 1.18μgmin-1) and distance (8.91 ± 4.91μgkm-1), while motorcyclists had a moderate ΣVOC inhalation dose based on travel time (5.08 ± 1.46μgmin-1) and distance (13.4 ± 5.5μgkm-1). Health impact assessment of VOCs showed that cyclists faced the highest carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, while bus commuters experienced the lowest health risk associated with VOC exposure. Our findings underscore the need to consider air quality in transportation infrastructure design and prioritize interventions to safeguard urban commuters' health, particularly cyclists, who are the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of traffic-related air pollutants.

Affects and assemblages of (un)safety among female bus commuters in Dhaka

By examining the lived experiences of 30 female bus commuters in Dhaka using in-depth qualitative approaches, this paper argues for an enhanced understanding of socio-cognitive undercurrents of gendered mobilities. By privileging a feminist-affective lens, and tracing the emotionally and politically charged everyday negotiations of space, power struggles, (dis) comfort, and encounters between gendered bodies, the paper contends that women’s agency to act and respond to harassment in public transport is contingent on multi-scalar assemblages comprising socio-technical infrastructures, lifestyles, cultural histories, personal dispositions and situated knowledge. Moreover, by applying assemblage thinking and affect theories in transport spaces, the study links discussions on gender, violence and mobility beyond the common economic tropes as is common in transport studies of the Global South.

Collaborative Optimization of Company Commuter Bus Stop Selection and Route Programming Considering Stochastic Travel Time and Demand

Company commuter bus service (CCBS) is a convenient commuting mode provided for employees. which has always been popular because of its flexible route planning and low cost. Some companies offer CCBS to their employees for free. However, there are also some companies that need employees to pay the fare for CCBS. For fee-based CCBS, profit is an important consideration. Appropriate stop setting and route programming can attract more commuters and generate greater profits. This paper studies the stop selection and route planning for CCBS considering uncertain demand and travel time. In the data preparation phase, we propose an improved fuzzy c-means clustering to obtain appropriate clusters of commuters’ addresses. In the solution phase, we designed a collaborative framework for stop selection and route programming with the objective to maximize the profit of CCBS. A novel heuristic stochastic dynamic programming (H-SDP) method is then designed for the stop selection sub-problem considering the uncertainties of both traveling time and commuting demand. Meanwhile, we employ a variable neighborhood search algorithm with a novel shaking operation suitable for the routing problem. Finally, we conduct a series of computational experiments to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the developed algorithms.

Spatial distributions of airborne transmission risk on commuter buses: Numerical case study using computational fluid and particle dynamics with computer-simulated persons.

Commuter buses have a high passenger density relative to the interior cabin volume, and it is difficult to maintain a physical/social distance in terms of airborne transmission control. Therefore, it is important to quantitatively investigate the impact of ventilation and air-conditioning in the cabin on the airborne transmission risk for passengers. In this study, comprehensive coupled numerical simulations using computational fluid and particle dynamics (CFPD) and computer-simulated persons (CSPs) were performed to investigate the heterogeneous spatial distribution of the airborne transmission risk in a commuter bus environment under two types of layouts of the ventilation system and two types of passenger densities. Through a series of particle transmission analysis and infection risk assessment in this study, it was revealed that the layout of the supply inlet/exhaust outlet openings of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system has a significant impact on the particle dispersion characteristics inside the bus cabin, and higher infection risks were observed near the single exhaust outlet in the case of higher passenger density. The integrated analysis of CFPD and CSPs in a commuter bus cabin revealed that the airborne transmission risk formed significant heterogeneous spatial distributions, and the changes in air-conditioning conditions had a certain impact on the risk.

‘Xiaopeng’s New Energy Vehicle under the Concept of Low Carbon Green Consumption Study on Marketing Strategy Optimization

Purpose – Based on the development trend and direction of the new energy vehicle, this paper analyzes the marketing environment of the new energy vehicle in the background of low carbon and green.&#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach – PEST analysis method、4P Marketing Strategy. Findings – Based on PEST analysis and 4P analysis, this paper discusses and studies the marketing optimization strategy of Xiaopeng New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., the marketing optimization strategy of Xiaopeng New Energy Vehicle is discussed and analyzed. Based on the analysis and research, the following findings are obtained: First, Xiaopeng technology should aim at families with fuel cars, working class, or urban traffic congestion and have a commuter bus at home, and optimize the design to provide passengers with a better ride experience and enhance product competitiveness. Second, Xiaopeng science and technology should pay more attention to the added value of new energy, improve the quality and after-sales service of new energy vehicles, and provide more value-added services for consumers. Third, Xiaopeng science and technology should pay close attention to the characteristics of ”consumers’ purchasing behavior and pay attention to diversify marketing channels. At the same time, fourth- and fifth-tier cities set up stores to boost their sales channels. Fourthly, Xiaopeng Science and Technology should raise the brand awareness of enterprises and adopt scientific and unified promotional methods. At the same time, in order to improve the promotion effect, Xiaopeng Technology should continuously improve the evaluation and feedback of the promotion effect. Research Implications – First, guide Xiaopeng’s new energy automobile marketing problem. Understanding the current marketing situation of the enterprise, the deficiencies and problems are analyzed to play an auxiliary role in solving the problem effectively so as to make the enterprise get good results. Second, it helps to provide a reference for other related enterprises. This paper takes the new energy automobile marketing of Xiaopeng Science and Technology Enterprise as the object of analysis and hopes to provide references for other enterprises to formulate and implement marketing strategies.

Prevalence and risk factors for non-collision injuries among bus commuters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

BackgroundMigration of people from rural to urban areas has led to the increase in demand for transportation services in the cities. However, authorities have failed to cope with this problem in a consistently manner. This has led to the increase in non-collision injuries among commuters. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence and risk factors for non-collision injuries among commuters using public transport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salaam involving 290 commuters from 7 bus routes travelling to and from the city centre using public transport which are privately owned and commonly known as “daladala”. Stratified random sampling was used to sample buses based on the passenger carrying capacity (i.e. 15-24, 25-34 and 35-45 passengers). Systematic random sampling was used to get a total of three commuters from each bus for the interview.ResultsLifetime prevalence of non-collision injuries was 71%, while these rates were 70 and 39% in the last 12 and 6 months, respectively. Commuters aged between 18 and 28 years experienced non-collision injuries the most (56%) in the last 12 months. Most non-collision injuries occurred on weekdays in the evening from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Strong association was observed between the occurrence of non-collision injuries and commuting time between 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm (adjusted OR = 9.24; 95% CI: 2.68-19.54); boarding and disembarking (adjusted OR = 9.21; 95% CI: 3.77-25.11) and scrambling during boarding (adjusted OR = 5.03; 95% CI: 2.51-21.32). The lower limbs (adjusted OR = 8.64; 95% CI: 2.72-21.76) and the upper limbs (adjusted OR = 13.55; 95% CI: 5.32-33.21) were the most affected body parts.ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated high prevalence of non-collision injuries among commuters using public transport in Dar es Salaam. Travelling in the evening between 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on the weekdays, boarding and disembarking especially when scrambling for the bus during boarding, overcrowding in the bus especially when the bus is already full with no seats available are the major risk factors for non-collision injuries.

Commuter Bus Operation Rules under Two Traffic Scenarios and Two Weather Conditions: Naturalistic Driving Study on Vehicle Speed and Clearance

This study provides insights into the building of environmentally and socially sustainable and livable cities by investigating commuter buses’ vehicle speed and clearance, considering two traffic scenarios (working days and weekends) and two weather conditions on urban roads. Thirty participants drove ten different routes during natural driving. The drivers were observed under the following traffic conditions: free flow (Grade I), steady flow (Grades II and III), unsteady flow (Grade IV), working days and weekends, and sunny and heavy snow weather. A method for collecting accurate traffic flow data was developed using a radar sensor to measure the real-time distance between vehicles. The real-time vehicle spacing and speed were detected using a radar sensor and a mobile app, respectively. The results showed that speed decreased obviously from 11.2% to 16.5% on working days compared to a similar situation on weekends, especially in heavy snow weather (from 33.8% to 40.7%). The lowest average speed was obtained in the traffic environment Grade IV. Commuter buses maintained a minimum vehicle clearance during working or heavy snow days in traffic environment Grade IV. Policymakers should consider the insights of this study to develop new, dynamic commuter schedules under diverse conditions.

Last-Mile Shuttle Planning for Improving Bus Commuters’ Travel Time Reliability: A Case Study of Beijing

This study proposes a multiobjective mixed integer nonlinear programming model for a last-mile shuttle service to improve bus commuters’ travel time reliability. The approach aims to assign the routes that pick up the transit passengers located at the different stops by shuttle service. A bilevel optimization model is established: the upper model of route design considers the tradeoff between time cost and fare cost when some of the passengers take the shuttles, and the lower model assigns the demand of transit passengers. The proposed model effectively captures the reliability of travel time because related parameters are estimated by a statistical fitting test with a large number of real-world bus geographic information system (GPS) data. Moreover, dynamic demand diverting from conventional transit to shuttle service and travel time reliability, including passenger in-vehicle time (IVT) and waiting time (WT), are fully considered in this model. Since the task is a nonlinear programming model, a two-stage algorithm combined with linearization processing is presented to find an optimal solution. Finally, from the case study of Zhongguancun Software Park zone in Beijing, it is indicated that when last-mile shuttle service is provided, bus passengers’ travel time reliability of last-mile trips can be improved by 14%. The study can be an important reference for improving the low reliability widely existing in the current transit commuters’ last-mile problem.

The use of E-moped increases commute satisfaction and subjective well-being: Evidence from Shanghai, China

Increasing residents' commute satisfaction and subjective well-being contribute to a healthy, sustainable, and successful society. In this respect, transport mode choice is commonly recognized as one of the key factors associated with commute satisfaction and commuters' subjective well-being. However, few studies have investigated how e-moped, one of the most popular commute transport modes in China, shapes residents' commute satisfaction and subjective well-being, although e-moped ownership in China is extremely great. Thus, we conducted an empirical study on the impact of commuting by e-mopeds, using the survey data from eight residential communities in Shanghai. A path analysis model was established to investigate the relationships between commute characteristics (including commute distance, commute time, commute costs, transport mode choice, transport environment), socio-demographics, commute satisfaction, and subjective well-being. The model results showed that commute satisfaction positively correlated with commuters’ subjective well-being. However, the relationship between transport mode choice and commute satisfaction was demonstrated not straightforward but fully mediated by commute time and commute costs which both showed a negative impact on commute satisfaction. In this case, using active modes was revealed to lead to a happier work commute than using private cars, whereas bus riders were at the bottom of the list as expected. Surprisingly, the use of e-mopeds resulted in the second highest total effects on the increase of commute satisfaction and subjective well-being, due to less commute time and lower commute costs. Moreover, the substitution effects of e-mopeds were examined. The results indicated that bus commuters held the most possibility to shift to e-mopeds; while, it was found hard to let e-moped users alter to the other transport modes of commuters. In this context, it was reasonable to further promote the development of e-mopeds in Shanghai, and targeted practical implications were given in this study.

Public transport travel mode chain and its implications for commute satisfaction: Take Xi'an as an example

The continuous expansion of urban population and space scale, the continuous increase of daily average traffic trips and per capita travel distance, and the increasingly frequent urban economic activities have formed diversified travel demands. Based on the survey data, this study combs the commuter travel mode chain of Xi'an with public transport as the main body, and explores the satisfaction of current commuter bus passengers. First of all, the impact factors of each link of the public transport travel mode chain are sorted out. Based on the three levels of reachability, accessibility and connectivity, this paper proposes an evaluation index system of urban public transport commuting service, including convenience, safety, comfort, reliability and other specific indicators. Secondly, the commuting satisfaction evaluation scale is constructed to evaluate the subjective experience of travellers in the travel process. The results show that there is a gap between the expectation of commuters and the perception of public transport service attributes. Among them, "convenience" and "comfort" of public transport are the most important service quality attributes related to the satisfaction of commuters, and residents are the least satisfied with the convenience of transit, and public transport lines fail to meet the commuting needs of some residents. When transport operators provide services that meet passengers' expectations, passenger satisfaction and PBT utilization rate will be improved, service quality of public transport mode chain will be improved, sustainable transport will be promoted, and energy consumption and emissions will be reduced.

Travel-based Multitasking on Public Transport: An Empirical Research in Hungary

On the basis of a survey addressing travel behaviour in 4707 households in Hungary in 2016, activities of passengers (especially on non-local public transport services) are analysed in this paper. Descriptive statistics is applied to provide a general view of household survey results about activities while travelling. K-means clustering is used for the analysis of travel-based multitasking on public transport and chartered commuter bus services. On the basis of one of the very first travel-based multitasking studies in Hungary, we concluded that the prevailing activity is talking to others, followed by relaxing or daydreaming, and listening to music/radio. Based on the outcomes of the clustering of public transport journeys by age of passengers, the main finding is that the use of electronic devices decreases with age and the characteristics of clusters in terms of other activities are diverse.