Inside the Bus by picaddict_1975
Public transport in its broadest sense refers to collective passenger services, including both informal (or paratransit) and formal services. Public transport encompasses shared taxis, mini-vans, conventional bus services, mass rapid transit (including metro, light rail and bus rapid transit), water-based services, and rail-based suburban services.
There are many reasons why people do not travel with public transport. They may find the service slow, fares and ticketing complicated, or interchanges inconvenient. Some might not feel safe or find the buses and trains unclean.
When designing a public transport system it is important to listen to passenger needs and opinions. It is also crucial to regard public transport as the backbone of the city traffic system. Single actions are not sufficient – the whole system must be improved in order to become more attractive. This also requires good coordination and cooperation between transport authorities, public transport companies and operators. Also, large investments are often necessary and politicians must have long-term mobility strategies for their cities.
One way of facilitating travel with public transport is to integrate different operators and modes of transport into the same fare system. Removing complicated fare structures through fare integration makes travelling more convenient and increases the use of public transport.
Read more in the gTKP Urban Mobility Topic Information Sheet on Public Transport.