THE ROLE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE IN IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORT

This paper considers various aspects of the role of public transport interchange in improving public transport. It analyses some data on interchange from the South Yorkshire Household Travel Survey, and draws some tentative conclusions and policies towards interchange and types of interchange. The Survey analysed journeys in South Yorkshire, England, between 1984 and 1993, and found that the proportion of all public transport journeys involving interchange declined from 16% to 11%. The paper gives the Survey's results about: (1) where interchange occurs; (2) the distance, duration and speed of journeys involving interchange; (3) who is willing to interchange; and (4) what passengers require at an interchange. Since the ending of the low fares policy, the proportion of interchange journeys fell from a very high level of 28%, showing that interchanges are not popular with passengers; many of them might prefer to travel by car, rather than by public transport trips requiring interchange. Interfaces can be designed in several ways to make them more convenient and attractive to passengers: (1) physical planning; (2) reduced time at interchange; and (3) lower interchange costs. Some geographical and urban development aspects are also discussed. For the covering abstract see IRRD 869445.