title: An observational comparison of the older and younger bus passenger experience in a developing world city.
abstract: This study was an unobtrusive observational analysis of 333 older and younger bus passengers in Guadalajara, Mexico. A set of data were collected for each observed passenger, as well as more general observations related to driver behaviour, bus design and bus service characteristics. There were significant differences between older and younger passengers in terms of boarding and alighting times, use of handrails, seat location preferences, passenger stability and coping strategies in order to maintain postural stability. The conditions of travel are conducive to a poor passenger experience for the older passengers in particular. Although the problems may be attributed to bus design and driver behaviour typical of that in developing countries, they are also influenced by the wider transport infrastructure, and a lack of a regulatory regime which places drivers under time pressure and in direct competition with each other. Practitioner Summary: Bus services must cater for all ages of passengers, including the elderly. This unobtrusive observational study investigated the passenger experience in a developing world city. Bus and wider service design were found to compromise the journey experience, with the older users being particularly negatively impacted. Design recommendations are provided.
authors.affiliation: a Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aceves-González
authors.affiliation: a Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: a Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002947:Cities; D003906:Developing Countries; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D011187:Posture; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Developing world; bus design; bus passenger; driver behaviour; observational study; public transport; traveller experience