| Summary: | 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.
|
|---|
