Are Printed Transit Information Materials a Significant Barrier to Transit Use

This study investigated the extent to which lack of ability to use printed transit information materials correctly to plan transit trips is a barrier to transit use. 180 people were asked to undertake 2 transit trip-planning efforts, each requiring the use of a system map, 2 route maps, and schedules. The study found that only 52.5% of the sample, composed of both transit users and nonusers, was able to plan a transit trip successfully using standard printed information materials. The main problems existed at the latter stages of the trip-planning process involving schedule use (55.6% success rate). Although printed information materials were the most popular trip-planning media for transit users, more than half stated that they did not use this method to plan their trips. Additional questioning suggested that a relationship between transit trip-planning ability and transit use does exist. However, it was also found that while lack of information material comprehension is a problem, it is not a primary barrier to transit use—none of the nontransit users cited lack of transit trip-planning ability as their main reason for not using transit. Furthermore, a wide range of other information resources is available for transit users to choose from if they are uncomfortable with printed media.