Obtaining transit information from users of a collaborative transit app: Platform-based and individual-related motivators

Abstract

The traditional practice of transit information provision considers operators as active communicators of information, while transit users are considered as passive, only receiving information. Encouraging reciprocity and active involvement of users by enabling them to share information may increase transit information quality and ridership. Nowadays, active user participation is starting to take shape with the development of new apps with commercial market potential. This study focuses on willingness to share travel information as part of daily routine transit app use. The applied behavioral framework is the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology adapted to the context of information sharing. The empirical analysis consists of estimating a structural equation model on a data set including 1,369 people from Innsbruck and Copenhagen as cities differing in size and general social trust. The results show that the most important motivational factors for information sharing are pro-sharing social norms and self-actualization weighted against effort expectancy, which is more closely related to the logistic effort of using the platform than to network familiarity. Trust in the information provided and social network engagement are secondary motivational factors, with perceived information quality and need of communication being less influential. Greater transit use and interest in level-of-service and real-time information are correlated with greater information sharing motivation. Women and generation Z had higher motivation for information sharing as well as people who reside in Denmark, a country with high social trust.

Smart City and Urban Logistics - Research Trends and Challenges: Systematic Literature Review

“…Aqib et al [90] devised a comprehensive methodology for realtime traffic prediction, harnessing the power of big data, deep learning, in-memory computing, and GPUs. Sarker et al [91] conducted an exploration into the propensity to share travel-related information when using daily transit applications. Abbasi, Khan and Ul Haq [92] analyzed various conceptual modeling approaches for the IoT.…”

Key Elements of Mobility Apps for Improving Urban Travel Patterns: A Literature Review

“…Following other authors, smart card data analysis does not serve as real-time information as it is retrospective [26]. The only source of real-time information is the active exchange of data by users, either in the form of permission to track phones, or messages to other users [27].…”

“…The information provided by the operator could be reinforced if the platform allows users to report problems and incidences in the service [25] and offers users up-to-date information in real time [27].…”

The provision of service information for public transport

“…However, if the provision of RTI can combat perceptions of unreliability, it may be a cheaper alternative to other efforts to improve on-time performance (Watkins et al, 2011). Sarker et al (2019) mention how the traditional approach to providing public transport information involves operators as active communicators of information, while users are passive recipients. However, the changed communications landscape means that it is no longer enough to simply communicate to users of public transport.…”

“…When crowdsourced RTI is not available, the application shows the published schedule information or provides estimates based on historical data. Sarker et al (2019) examine willingness to share travel information via a public transport mobile application. Their study is based on data from over 1300 people from Innsbruck and Copenhagen (cities that differ in size and level of social trust).…”