The Individual Transport Mobility Gap (ITMG) as an Obstacle on the Road to Higher Rates of Public Transport Use

Abstract

Abstract Research purpose. The call for higher rates of public transport usage seems reasonable and understandable, given the growing impact of climate change and the high burden of heavy traffic, especially on urban transport structures. A course of Bachelor’s degree students in Logistics explored the issue of satisfaction with individual transport mobility, formulating the hypothesis that there must be a striking difference in the quality behind the use of a private car versus the use of public transport. The hypothesised difference in perceived quality between the two modes of transport was called the individual transport mobility gap (ITMG). Design/Methodology/Approach. The ITMG was considered from the perspective of people who mainly use a car (car users) and who mainly use public transport (public transport users). Both groups were asked how they rate their preferred means of transport and how they rate the alternative mode of transport using an online questionnaire. The survey can be accessed online at: https://fhludwigshafen.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6JOoxNvlSVxsdDv. Findings. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that there is a substantial perceived gap with an ITMG value of 4.0 between using a car versus using public transport for people who primarily use a car. In contrast, the ITMG value for public transport users was only 0.8. Originality/Relevance/Practical Implications. The originality of this approach lies in surveying satisfaction with a mode of transport at a highly aggregated level rather than at the level of individual quality factors, such as punctuality or flexibility. ITMG is defined in this study as a valuable metric that provides a basis for comparison. This quantitative metric can in turn be used to determine the effectiveness of measures to increase usage rates of public transport. The study also provides practical findings by making available its database to other researchers for further evaluation purposes. The study also contributes to scholarly and public discourse on how to effectively reduce the satisfaction gap in the use of private cars versus public transport, thus resulting in improved outcomes for the environment and society.