The effect of the immediate urban environments and design of bus stops on wait time perception : a case study of Hong Kong

Abstract

Waiting time is typically associated negatively with transit use and broadly linked to two key bodies of literature on the subjective well-being of urban residents. In the field of transit planning, recent efforts on developing real-time transit information, integrated hub designs as well as encouraging transit-oriented development (TOD) have been made to mitigate transit users’ aversion to waiting and enhance service quality. Nevertheless, there is little empirical evidence evincing which other specific types of station and stop amenity can effectively affect wait time perception. Few studies have also directly examined the environmental and psychological aspects of transit planning. In the analysis of the urban environment in Hong Kong, many studies focus on key issues on the macro-level, such as the effect of building density and street layout on the well-being of urban residents. Given the significance of public transit services (PTS) in Hong Kong, surprisingly limited research has examined micro-level issues, such as the design and environment of transit stops on the psychological well-being of users.

To address this knowledge gap, this study aims to explore the environmental and psychological aspects of transit planning with the following overarching research question: Does the design and immediate urban environment of bus stops affect wait time perception? The outline scope of this study is to examine the relationship between the design and immediate urban environment of bus stops and wait time perception. Variables pertaining to various bus stop, environmental, respondent and transit characteristics are taken into account. Data is collected through self-administered questionnaire surveys and audits of the immediate environment of selected bus stops in Hong Kong. By employing regression analysis, the difference in reported perceived waiting times as a function of the objectively actual waiting times, environmental characteristics and the design of station and stop amenities is explained. The raw values reflect that the perceived waiting time on average is about 1.74 times longer than actual waiting time. The regression results demonstrate that shelter and seating are essential bus stop amenities, as they have beneficial effects particularly for longer waits. Moreover, the statistical significance of post-secondary or above education underlined the need to raise awareness on time perception amongst bus users, in order to enhance their subjective well-being. The author recommends the wide provision of basic stop amenities, namely shelter and seating, at bus stops, especially those with lower service frequencies. Given the regression results and limitations of this study, continued exploration of the effects of greenery features, other specific stop/station amenities and pollution on wait time perception is needed, in order to comprehensively improve the subjective well-being of bus users and waiting environment of bus stops in a cost-effective manner.