Multimodal real time information systems: users’ requirements and effects on travel behaviour

Modern cities show an increasing interest in Advanced Traveller Information Systems, with a growing attention to real time multimodal information. Through those systems, decision makers hope to achieve a shift from the car to alternative, environment-friendly modes of travel, thus enhancing the quality of the environment. Unfortunately, not many comprehensive assessments have been undertaken in order to verify the actual contribution of ATIS to such modal shift. The paper aims at supporting the design of the Multimodal Urban Navigator TueTO, according to the users’ requirements (operational, ergonomics, performances). TueTO is a smartphone application providing the possibility to plan travels using real time information about all modes (car, public transport, bike, foot), including bike and car sharing and a car pooling module. A special attention is paid also to the potential of the application to spur the modal diversion through a real time and reliable information supporting the multimodality. To this end a quali-quantitative approach was adopted, administering a questionnaire and organising 24 focus groups prior to the actual testing of the application. It has involved a sample of 150 people living in the metropolitan area of Torino, stratified according to gender, age, presence of children in the household, plus origin and destination of their trips. The survey was carried out to individuate the key features of TUeTO (ex-ante survey) before its test in the Torino Metropolitan Area and, likewise, allowed gathering data on: • the main needs for passengers (all modes) and what they expect from the application; • the attributes that the tool and its services should have to induce passengers to address their behaviour towards more sustainable modes; • the reactions, the attitudes and users’ responses to the new tool, thus providing crucial information for the design of the application; • passengers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for such services. Hence time saving may be accrued thanks to the indications about the most efficient (travel time and cost) transport modes according to their specific travel constraints. The theory of planned behaviour was used as theoretical framework for the questionnaire design, investigating attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. For the data analysis, descriptive analysis, parametric and non-parametric tests, factor analysis and binary logistic regression were used as statistical approaches to study the collected data and evaluate the effectiveness of the application in terms of behavioural change. Before the test, participants declared an interest on TueTO and a positive attitude towards its use. The results show that people expect easiness of use and high reliability besides information about travel time and cost and its environmental impact. Then, additional information not directly related to transportation is also requested: weather, ticketing functionality, POIs, etc. Participants suggested the possibility to select the modes according to their preferences and habits as well as to change the look of the app, colours, themes, etc. A vocal assistant was also requested. The interaction with social media seems important to the users who asked for the possibility of sharing information.