Public Attitudes and Transport Infrastructure : Implications of Public Attitudes for Transport Infrastructure Investment

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Psychology
Degree name
Master of Science
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Psychology
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2009
Authors
Bowler, Sarah
Abstract

In light of future public spending on public transport, a survey was designed to study public attitudes towards bus and rail systems, the trust invested in their infrastructure, and the perceptions regarding value added by the amenity to real estate. A sample of N=396 respondents from the Lower Hutt and Eastbourne areas of Wellington, New Zealand were divided into three groups; Waterloo, a high public transport access area for the collection attitude data; The two remaining areas Petone/Eastbourne, and Woburn were manipulation cites, where rail access was either removed or introduced in a hypothetical scenario. Results showed more positive, and universal attitudes towards rail, while attitudes to bus were influenced by a number of demographic measures. Revealed preferences showed a disinclination to use the bus when rail is available. Respondent showed greater trust in the stability of rail over bus infrastructure. Reactions towards the rail removal scenario were negative; house prices were expected to decrease. Reactions to the rail inclusion scenario were ambivalent, when they were expected to be positive. Loss aversion is cited as a possible explanation for this pattern of results. Recommendations are made for a reduced priority on bus development within rail serviced areas, and further research to confirm results.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
Copyright Sarah Bowler