Impacts of Advanced Travel Information Systems on Travel Behaviour: Smartmoov’ case study

What are the effects of multimodal real-time information on travel behaviour? Large amounts of money have been invested to implement in the cities such systems, but until now few assessments have been done to verify if it contributes to a real modal shift and, in the higher end, to a more sustainable mobility. This research aims at thoroughly assessing the effectiveness of multimodal real-time information systems, pointing out the limitations before their use and recording the changes induced on the travel behaviour. Two wave questionnaires were designed and administered to a sample of 46 persons before and after a five months experimentation where a multimodal real-time information application for Smartphones (Smartmoov’) was tested after its implemented in the city of Lyon, in 2013. Besides the questionnaires twelve focus groups were conducted with the same sample, six before and six after the experimentation. The survey was aimed at investigating the potential changes of travel behaviour of the sample. Descriptive analysis, parametric and non-parametric tests, factor analysis and binary logistic regression were used as statistical approaches to analyse the collected data and evaluate the effectiviness of Smartmoov’. Before the experimentation, it was understood that participants had no constrains towards the use of the Smartmoov’, being its use under a positive outlook: almost everyone was expert in the technology and was familiar with the concept of Smartmoov’. The travellers’ assessment of the travel planner was initially modestly positive, but it decreased over time and, after the experimentation, the use of the different modes remained stable while a small increase of the car for the most frequent trip was observed. The perceived behaviour control and the intentions to change mode did not show variations after the experimentation; this fact points out that the behaviour is not completely reasoned, being partly under the influence of the habitual performance. The stability of the mode used, of the perceived behavioural control and of the intentions show that mobility is strongly influenced by the high frequency of the past behaviour. In fact, the mobility habits are a heavy burden on the process of modal choice. Nevertheless, information can play a role on modal shift, but only if it is strong enough to interrupt the patterns of routine commutes. The results of the experimentation were in line with previous studies; few people used this app on a daily basis or for planning daily commuting, but they most often used Smartmoov’ to plan occasional travels. Furthermore, people did not show any willingness to pay to use Smartmoov’ neither before or after the experimentation.