Public Transport Users Research Articles

The Questionnaire on the Use of Public Transportation and Well-Being (QUPTW): A national survey and validation in Paraguay

IntroductionThe impact of public transportation on the human emotional well-being is certainly under-studied, especially in the developing countries. This study proposes and validates a questionnaire aimed to assess the emotional well-being in the context of public transportation use in Paraguay (as in any other Spanish country). MethodsWe conducted an observational cross-sectional study using an online survey to address the relationship between the transport systems and mental health. The newly developed Questionnaire on the Use of Public Transportation and Well-Being (QUPTW) was evaluated for content and construct validity, criterion validity, and reliability. ResultsFindings from 918 respondents have shown that the QUPTW reports strong psychometric properties, including validity and reliability. Participants, primarily young, university-educated women residing in Greater Asunción, reported dissatisfaction with the public transportation services. Long commute times, discomfort, and poor hygiene and safety conditions are significant contributors leading to emotional distress. These findings underscore the potential impact of the inadequate public transportation systems on mental well-being, suggesting the need for policy interventions to enhance accessibility, comfort, and safety. ConclusionsThis study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the public transportation use and the emotional well-being and provides a valuable tool for further research and policy development.

Exploring parental decision-making in school commutes: A structural equation model of public transport utilization and child safety in Thailand

Concern is growing regarding the increasing use of private car in many developing countries, including Thailand. Car usage is rising in Thailand in part because the public transit system is inadequate and unreliable, especially in rural and suburban communities. Often, children’s route to school is unsafe due to the increasing number of cars around the school. This prompts parents to worry about their child’s safety when in transit. The model of travel by public transportation is an alternative for reducing road congestion and improving children’s safety. This study seeks to better understand the factors that influencing parents’ decisions regarding the use of public transportation for their children’s school commutes. Data were gathered through a questionnaire from a sample of 750 parents with children between the ages of 6 and 18 years in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. The findings of the structural equation model analysis showed a relationship between service users’ loyalty and the components of satisfaction, trust, expectation, and perception of service quality. The outcomes derived in this study can serve as practical guidelines for public and private transportation system operators to improve service efficiency, meet consumer demand, and foster positive interactions between service users and operators. In this way, this study can lead to important internal and external benefits for the continued development of the public transportation system and motivate more service users to transition to the use of public transportation.

The movement pattern changes of population following a disaster: Example of the Aegean Sea earthquake of October 2020

Unexpected seismic events can have a significant impact on our daily lives. Examining post-disaster population movement patterns contributes to disaster response and recovery operations. While most studies analyze population movement or displacement data, only a few examine multi-level movement patterns and consider public transportation demand. This paper aims to analyze changes in movement patterns following a major earthquake that severely affected İzmir in Türkiye, mainly using movement data from the Data for Good platform of Meta. According to the findings, on the first day following the earthquake, those traveling within İzmir considered the areas least damaged to be safer, despite the higher seismic intensity. The timeframe alignment between aftershock activity and the number of people traveling within İzmir suggests the routine movement pattern within the city was regained as the aftershocks decreased day by day. Unlike intra-city travel routines, there was an increase in the number of people moving to summer houses, located far from the center of İzmir. By November 2, 2020, three days after the earthquake, intra-city movements reached a new normal, as confirmed by public transportation use. However, intra-city travel patterns were impacted for approximately one month. This study reveals key findings from the evaluation of post-earthquake movements to improve disaster management decision making and aid crisis response and recovery operations.

Air pollution, viral spread and health outcomes evidence from strikes in France.

To evidence the impact of air pollution on the health of urban populations, several studies use natural experiments that shift commuting from public transport to cars (or vice-versa). However, as public transport use declines, reduced interpersonal contact may lead to slower virus spread and thus lower respiratory morbidity. Using a difference-in-differences strategy, we show that respiratory hospitalisations are both positively affected by air pollution and negatively affected by viral spread following partial unavailability of public transport due to strikes in the ten most populated French cities during the period 2010-2015. Our results are in line with studies in other countries that have found a significant increase in urgent respiratory hospitalisations following a public transport strike, most likely due to car pollution, but we also find a detectable interaction with viral spread, which should not be overlooked when interpreting these studies.

Commuting Behaviors of People with Disabilities and the Implications for Transport Planning and Policy: A Preliminary Study

This research aimed to obtain an initial understanding of the commuting behaviors of people with disabilities, which has not been widely discussed in the transportation planning literature in Indonesia. Facets studied included frequency of weekly commuting; trip duration to the workplace; trip chaining behavior; usage of public transportation; and utilization of private vehicles. Commuting trips were limited to the home-work-home context, and the research was conducted on adult disabled commuters (aged 17 to 60) in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area (Jabodetabek). A total of 51 commuters with motor and sensory (visual and auditory) disabilities participated in the survey. The results indicate that people with disabilities tend to spend more hours commuting; use public transportation, with the TransJakarta Bus Rapid Transit and paratransit in the form of online motorcycle taxis as the primary modes of transport; and engage in pre-planned trip chaining activities, primarily for visiting family, friends, and clients as well as doing grocery shopping and getting medical treatment. The research findings can serve as valuable resources for developing inclusive transportation policies and planning, such as improving and enhancing access to public transportation for people with disabilities, supporting inclusive training policy in the public transportation field, implementing TOD strategies, and advancing transportation technology to enhance convenience for people with disabilities.

Barriers to the Use of Public Transportation among Older Adults in Lahore, Pakistan: A Psychological Perspective

Transport is crucial for healthy aging; however, majority of the older adults are dependent on others globally, particularly in developing countries. Age-sensitive transport is essential for positive experiences, with psychosocial factors impacting the public transport use. Therefore, the current study focused on psychological factors as to why the older adults in underdeveloped nations, such as Pakistan, find it difficult to use public transportation. Data was collected from 384 people aged 60 or over in Lahore, Pakistan through a questionnaire survey using simple random sampling. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA were employed to assess the socioeconomic characteristics and mean differences in psychosocial factors across various demographics including age, gender, and socioeconomic status using SPSS software. Statistical results indicated that due to the lack of age-sensitive infrastructure, older adults possess poorly perceived norms, unfavorable beliefs and attitudes, and limited personal ability to use public transportation. T-test and ANOVA results further indicated that aged people had more negative attitude, while the lower-income and lesser-educated older adults perceived the norms positively and were more likely to use public transport services. Hence, the findings clearly explained the interplay of socio-physical barriers in public transport environment which significantly influences the older adults' psychological perspectives. The current study suggested that soft and hard transport interventions should be implemented together. This is because they are crucial to inducing positive public transport services for older adults.

Analysis of Factors Influencing The Decline in Public Transportation Interest in Timika City

This research aims to determine the factors influencing the reduction of public transportation in Timika City. The method used is quantitative, which is collecting data through questionnaires. The research results show that several factors influencing the reduction in public transportation in Timika City are limited accessibility, service, and comfort. The analysis used in this research is multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this research explain that variable X1, namely accessibility, and variable X2, namely service, have a positive and insignificant influence on the interest of public transport users. Meanwhile, variable X3, namely comfort, has a positive and significant effect on the interest of public transport users. The implications of this study show that increasing comfort is the most significant factor in attracting public interest in using public transportation in Timika City. Improvements in accessibility and quality of service, while important, are not enough without increased convenience. Effective strategies should focus on improving hygiene, seat comfort, in-vehicle temperature, and tranquility during the trip.

Autonomous driving parking robot systems for urban environmental benefit evaluation

Many countries are now taking environmental issues seriously and working towards neutral. Therefore, this study aims to reduce carbon emissions by suggesting ways to reduce the use of passenger cars and induce the use of public transportation and walking modes. To this end, a valet parking robot system was designed in a transfer car park outside Seoul. The effect of the system was quantified. By implementing the valet parking robot system in the transfer parking lots, the time to find a parking space and the time to park after finding a parking space are reduced when using existing parking lots. In other words, the valet parking robot system can reduce out-of-vehicle time, and the reduction in travel time can induce a modal shift from existing car users to public transport. Furthermore, by reducing the number of cars in the city center, vehicle kilometer traveled(VKT) will be reduced, and the emission of pollutants that cause air pollution will also be reduced due to less traffic on public roads in the city center. This study analyzes this quantitatively and concludes that the implementation of a valet parking robot system can have a positive environmental impact.

Perceptions of safety during everyday travel shaping older adults’ mobility in Bengaluru, India

BackgroundIn the context of socially sustainable urban development, comfortable, safe, and accessible public transport is crucial to motivating people to travel more sustainably. Using the framework given by Masoumi and Fastenmeier (2016) to examine the concepts of safety and security, we explore how perceptions of safety about different transport modes shaped the mobility of older adults in Bengaluru, India.MethodsIn-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with 60 adults, aged 50 years and over, residing in urban Bengaluru, using a semi-structured in-depth interview guide to explore the perceptions of safety in different transport modes. Observations were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying thematic analysis, we present how the perceptions of safety during their everyday travel shaped their mobility.ResultsAccording to our research, older adults’ perception of safety during their everyday travel is shaped by past negative experiences with accidents, pickpocketing, theft of mobile phones, and chain snatching. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the already existing inequalities, further limiting older adults’ mobility to carry out regular activities such as buying groceries, socialising, making a hospital visit, or going to work due to the fear of getting infected.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the use of public transport needs to be encouraged among older adults by enhancing necessary safety features following the age-friendly cities framework. Furthermore, it can help policymakers develop transport polices, which suit the mobility needs of older adults.

Awareness, perceptions and challenges among public transport operators during the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures in eastern Uganda: a qualitative study

BackgroundPublic transportation plays a major role in the transmission of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, due to the confined spaces in vehicles. It is therefore very crucial to apply COVID-19 prevention measures in public transportation to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission. The implementation of these measures depends largely on the public transportation users. We explored the awareness, perceptions and challenges among public transport operators during the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures in Eastern Uganda.MethodsThis qualitative study was done in Eastern Uganda in January and February 2021. We conducted four focus group discussions, six in-depth interviews and three key informant interviews to document the awareness, perceptions and challenges faced by public transport operators including 10 boda boda riders, 19 taxi operators and 11 truck (cargo) transporters. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with the help of NVIVO software version 12 plus using a thematic framework approach.ResultsWe relied on the health belief model to report on four broad themes including: Perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and cues to action.Perceived threatParticipants were aware of the gravity / seriousness of COVID-19. They were aware that it is an unusual flu whose symptoms are severe and clearly distinguishable from the common flu. They also knew that COVID-19 is easily and quickly transmitted. However they were not aware of the cause of COVID-19. Perceived benefits: the participants perceived a number covid 19 preventive measures as beneficial in preventing COVID-19. These included: COVID 19 vaccination, observing hand hygiene, avoiding touching the ‘soft parts’ (eyes, nose and mouth), quarantining in a hospital setting, wearing a face mask, social distancing,. Perceived barriers: participants reported barriers to implementing COVID 19 preventive measures included Misconceptions about COVID 19, scepticism about COVID-19 vaccination, not breathing well or respiratory problems hinders use of face masks, fear of covid 19 transmission during home isolation, design of the vehicles do not favour social distancing, passengers unwilling to pay the fare, natural reflexes come in the way of not touching soft parts, financial constraints, hostility from passengers due to increased transport fares, law enforcement officials prioritizing the driving permit over implementation of the measures, hostility from law enforcement officials, religious beliefs against the use of alcohol, competing for passengers among public transporters.Cues to action includedMass sensitization by the Ugandan government through the ministry of health with the help of media platforms like television.Conclusions and recommendationOur study brings to light the likely barriers that impede the use of preventive measures in public transportation use during an epidemic / pandemic like COVID-19 which could potentially escalate transmission. During cues to action like sensitization through media, focus should be put to the demystification of myths on COVID-19, highlighting on benefits of using preventive measures and risk of disease. Public transport passengers should be sensitized on risk of COVID-19 transmission during public transportation use and on the importance of complying with COVID-19 preventive measures. We recommend further exploration on the challenges faced by the public transportation passengers in implementing preventive measures in the event of an epidemic like COVID-19. Future research is required to establish a more robust transport model in crisis situations such as a pandemic. In addition, there is need for integration between the public health and public transportation sectors to foster epidemic preparedness for future crises in the context of public transportation.

Factors Affecting Public Transportation Use during Pandemic

For preventing the spread of COVID-19, health authorities urgently turned their attention to urban public transportation. It is believed that virus transmission is more likely to occur in public transportation due to increased exposure to infected individuals in the closed and crowded spaces of public transport. This study aimed to model effective factors in the use of public transportation systems during a pandemic based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The methodology used was structural equation modeling, with 358 Iranian passengers in Tehran participating and data collected through a questionnaire. The data underwent analysis by means of the partial least squares method with the assistance of SMARTPLS software. The results indicate that passenger satisfaction is affected positively and significantly by expectation and service quality. Behavioral control, subjective norm, attitude, perceived usefulness (PU), and perceived ease of use (PEU) each contribute positively and significantly to the formation of intention. Service quality, PU, and PEU positively and significantly affect attitude. Finally, expectation, intention, PU, and PEU positively and significantly affect the use of the public transportation system. Therefore, it can be inferred that amalgamating TPB and TAM can serve as a robust indicator of passengers' inclination towards using public transportation during pandemic situations, as well as their actual usage of it.

Distributions of walking access to public transport in Melbourne, Australia – Evidence on acceptable and tolerable walking distances

The international literature indicates a wide interest in the distances public transport users walk to access their services. Urban and transport planners seek information on acceptable walking distances (AWD) in the provision of minimum levels of service coverage. This study uses a large database from Melbourne, Australia, to analyze trip length frequency distributions (TLFD) of walking access and egress to consider AWD in a multimodal public transportation system and to examine tolerable walking distances (TWD). AWD provides a guide to planners about stop/station locations for desirable minimum service coverage. TWD is a representative maximum walking distance for assessing the effectiveness of that service provision and can be used in conjunction with AWD. A statistical distribution function for walking distances can facilitate the use of regional values for AWD and TWD in transit service planning. The Burr Type XII distribution is shown to provide a good fit to the observed data. This provides a valuable tool for the analysis of percentile walking distances and suggests a general framework for the study of AWD and TWD in any city or region.

Шляхи оптимізації кількості індивідуального транспорту в обмежених можливостях вулично-дорожньої мережі

An analysis of scientific research was conducted in the direction of reducing the negative impact of the use of individual vehicles on the street and road network of cities. In order to solve the problem of transport oversaturation of public transportation systems, the foreign experience of limiting the use of individual vehicles on the street and road network of cities was analyzed. The main directions of restrictions on the use of individual vehicles on the street and road network of cities have been established, including restrictions on the operation of individual vehicles depending on the number of passengers in the cabin, the digital configuration of the state license plate, and the presence of vehicle certification. Methods of limiting the operation of individual vehicles in the busy part of the city were also considered. These measures are aimed at reducing the intensity of traffic in cities and increasing the filling factor of the vehicle interior. Considering that a large share of individual vehicles used in Ukraine belongs to Euro-2 and Euro-4 environmental standards, their use significantly worsens the environmental situation in large cities. Approaches aimed at increasing the use of public transport and other alternative modes of transport for transporting passengers in cities are summarized, which reduces the load on the street and road network and improves the environmental situation. To solve the described problems, it is necessary to use a comprehensive approach, in particular, to apply measures of both a regulatory and an informational nature, primarily to popularize the use of public transport. The proposed measures to solve the described transport problems will improve the comfort of transport connections for all road users and the environmental situation, especially in large cities of Ukraine.

Risk of COVID­-19 Infection among Employees of a Large Anti­tuberculosis Institution in Moscow: Survey Results

Relevance. Studying the experience of working under the conditions of COVID-19 allows us to more effectively assess the functioning of anti-epidemic measures in the event of the occurrence or threat of new pandemics, including those caused by new pathogens. The risk of contracting COVID-19 among employees of medical organizations is higher compared to the rest of the population of the metropolis, which determines the need to develop additional measures in medical organizations to protect workers. Timely assessment of risks and preventive measures during a pandemic allow building a system to protect medical institutions from various biological threats when providing medical care. Aim. Assessment of the risks of contracting COVID-19 among employees of a large anti-tuberculosis medical organization in a metropolis. Materials & Methods. A survey of employees of a large anti-tuberculosis medical organization in Moscow was conducted. The survey was conducted on 46 key questions of epidemiological history, compliance with the requirements of the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime, alleged sources of infection, prognostic risks of the occurrence and course of COVID-19. During the period from August 1 to October 1, 2022, 1225 employees of the institution were surveyed (43.8% of the total number). The survey was conducted on a voluntary basis and was anonymous. When answering questions, participants provided information about demographic factors (age, gender), place of actual residence, the fact of contracting a new coronavirus infection, frequency of laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2, immunization against COVID-19, possible places of contact with patients with COVID-19, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at home and at work, the regular use of skin antiseptics, as well as other information that allowed us to establish the risks of infection of workers at home and at work. To assess the risks of infection, respondents were divided into two groups depending on the presence of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 (group I) or its absence (group II) as of October 1, 2022. The material for testing was nasal/oropharyngeal swabs. The research of employees was carried out on the basis of the laboratory of the anti-tuberculosis medical organization, as well as in other accredited laboratories of the metropolis using the molecular genetic method, and since February 2022 also using the express method that determines the SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Results. Among the survey participants and according to the questionnaire data, 797 employees suffered from the new coronavirus infection COVID-19, and 138 (17.3%) of them had repeated cases of the disease. Factors that increase the risk of COVID-19 among personnel of anti-tuberculosis medical organizations directly involved in the fight against the new coronavirus infection have been identified. The results of the study demonstrated that important factors influencing the incidence of workers were the frequency of examination for COVID-19, the regular use of skin antiseptics, contact with sources of infection, the use of glasses for vision correction, the use of public transport and eating at work. Conclusion. The need to study the risks of contracting COVID-19 among employees of medical organization and, based on them, develop a set of additional anti-epidemic protection measures was confirmed.

Strategi kompetitif untuk meningkatkan Minat Pengguna bus batik solo trans Kota Surakarta

The role of public transport as a community choice in mobility is determined by public interest, it is the Government's goal to make people switch from private vehicles to public transport to continue to be improved. Surakarta City has 2 (two) adequate transportation nodes with Tirtonadi Terminal and Solo Balapan Station which are now integrated with a connecting bridge to facilitate the community to travel. Batik Solo Trans Surakarta is a feeder transport service that serves 6 (six) corridors in 2020 which are determined through the Decree of the Mayor of Surakarta. The Batik Solo Trans bus model is ¾-shaped and can carry 20 passengers, with facilities for passengers with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and mothers carrying children. Every year the number of Batik Trans Bus service corridors increases but inversely proportional to the occupancy rate of the number of passengers decreases, therefore a competitive strategy is needed with on line transportation that already exists in the community. Based on the results of previous research, it was found that the decline in user interest in Batik Solo Trans Bus was caused by the lack of optimal service of Batik Solo Trans Bus in Surakarta City and the decline in people's purchasing power determined by ATP and WTP. The research objective is to analyse the strategy to increase the interest of public transport users in Surakarta City. The research method is to conduct a literature study technique with analysis using SWOT. Strengths and weaknesses are in terms of strengths, namely 1) The rate of economic growth is increasing; 2) The unemployment rate is decreasing, and the weaknesses are 1) Public transport users are declining; 2) Competition with online transport is increasing.

The effect of quarantine policy on pollution emission and the usage of private transportation in urban areas

Governmental policies, regulations, and responses to the pandemic can benefit from a better understanding of people's resulting behaviours before, during, and after COVID-19. To avoid the inelasticity and subjectivity of survey datasets, several studies have already used some objective variables like air pollutants to estimate the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the urban transportation system. However, the usage of reactant gases and a narrow time scale might weaken the results somehow. Here, both the objective passenger volume of public transport and the concentration of private traffic emitted black carbon (BC) from 2018 to 2023 were collected/calculated to decipher the potential relationship between public and private traffic during the COVID-19 period. Our results indicated that the commuting patterns of citizens show significant (p < 0.01) different patterns before, during, and after the pandemic. To be specific, public transportation showed a significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation with private transportation before the pandemic. This public transportation was significantly (p < 0.01) affected by the outbreaks of COVID-19, showing a significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation with private transportation. Such impacts of the virus and governmental policy would affect the long-term behaviour of individuals and even affect public transportation usage after the pandemic. Our results also indicated that such behaviour was mainly linked to the governmental restriction policy and would soon be neglected after the cancellation of the restriction policy in China.

Changes in complacency to adherence to COVID-19 preventive behavioral measures and mental health after COVID-19 vaccination among medical and dental healthcare professionals

ABSTRACT Medical and dental professionals should continue to adhere to preventive measures after COVID-19 vaccination due to their increased risk of exposure to the virus, particularly as new variants emerge that may heighten their risk perception and susceptibility. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on complacency to adherence to COVID-19 preventive behavioral measures and mental health among medical and dental professionals. In this cross-sectional study 410 medical and dental professionals were recruited from different medical and dental hospitals in Islamabad, Pakistan. The data was collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire comprising of three sections (socio-demographic, information of preventive behaviors performance against COVID-19 after vaccination, mental health status). A chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression were used for analysis. Post COVID-19 vaccination there was decrease in the frequency of use of hand washing, sanitizers (70.2%), and social distancing (60.5%), however greeting with a handshake (58.8%) and use of public transport (45.9%) seen upward trend among participants. Only face mask usage post-vaccination was statistically significant (p < .05) in association with age, marital status, and years of working Experience. The greatest decrease in the usage of masks after COVID-19 vaccination was seen in age group of 10–30 (41.7%) and working experience group of 0–5 years (39.7%). All the preventive behaviors are statistically significant (p < .05) associated with the mental status of the participants except online shopping and use of public transport. These results indicate the presence of vaccination-induced complacency in adherence to COVID-19 preventive behavioral measures among healthcare professionals.

Understanding the Competition and Cooperation between Dockless Bike-Sharing and Metro Systems in View of Mobility

The advent of dockless bike-sharing (DBS) represents an effective solution to enhance public transportation usage. However, despite growing interest in integrating DBS with metro systems, comprehensive studies on their competitive and cooperative relationships remain limited. This study aims to analyze the spatial, temporal, and mobility characteristics of metro-related DBS to explore integration opportunities. Initially, three modes of interaction between DBS and metros are identified: strong competition, weak competition, and feeder relationships. Subsequently, based on these relationships, the analysis focuses on distance, spatio-temporal patterns, and the scope of DBS activities. Results from Beijing indicate that metro-associated DBS primarily serves as “last-mile” solutions without significant short-range competition with metro systems. Strongly competitive relationships, on the other hand, are interaction patterns due to the dense overlay of metro stations and inconvenient transfer facilities and are mainly used for non-commuting purposes. Furthermore, weakly competing and feeder DBS systems exhibit similar commuting patterns, highlighting bicycling as a viable alternative to walking within metro catchment areas and that metro catchment areas should be adapted to bicycling. Mobility communities, identified as tightly integrated cycling hubs, are proposed as strategic dispatch zones to manage peak demands and reduce operational strain on DBS fleets. These findings deepen our understanding of DBS and metro system interactions, offering insights to optimize public transport operations and enhance urban mobility solutions.

Public transport use and mortality among older adults in England: A cohort study

Background: Most evidence on transport use and mortality has focused on the commute to work. This study aims to fill a gap by assessing relationships between public transport use and mortality among older adults. Methods: Data come from a cohort of 10,186 individuals aged 50 or older who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), with survey data linked to mortality records over 16 years (2002–2018). We assessed a binary measure of public transport use and frequency of use from ‘every day or nearly every day’ to ‘never’. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between public transport use and mortality. Analyses were adjusted for a range of covariates including socio-demographic factors, chronic disease, and self-reported problems with daily living activities. Results: Overall, 3371 participants (33.1%) died within the study period. Mortality was lower among public transport users (21.3%) compared with non-users (64.2%). Adjusted analyses found that users had 34% lower mortality than non-users (HR 0.66 (95% CI 0.61;0.71)). Adjusted analyses showed similar association sizes across frequencies of public transport use, with those using public transport every day or nearly every day having 41% lower mortality than never users (HR 0.59 (0.49;0.71)). Associations were similar among those with and without a longstanding illness. Conclusion: The use of public transport among older adults is linked to lower levels of mortality. Reductions in provision of public transport services could be detrimental to both transportation and population health.

Who uses night trains and why? A mixed-method study profiling night train users in Switzerland

Addressing air travel demand is a key open challenge in transitioning to a low-carbon society. In Switzerland, where most flights are from/to nearby European countries, their substitution with night train services is a promising alternative. However, still little research investigates whether the demand for night trains is well-established and the motivations behind it. We aim to bridge this gap through a mixed-method study involving 389 Swiss residents who travelled by night train in 2022/23. A web survey was first conducted to identify latent classes of participants based on their daily and long-distance travel mode choices and evaluate relevant predictors of class membership. Participants of each class were then randomly selected to be involved in an in-depth interview on personal experiences and motivations underlying their choices. Results identify three classes of travellers distinguished by a predominant use of rail and public transport (greens), mixed long-distance travel mode choices and car-oriented daily mobility (pragmatists), preference for flying combined with public transport and active daily mobility (dissonants). Travel cost reduction is the only motivation significantly differentiating pragmatists and dissonants from the greens. This result suggests that fluctuations in ticket prices are the main driving force in shifting demand from flights to night trains.