The Swedish Special Transport Services, with 0.42 million authoriced pass holders, is integrated into the Swedish public transport system. This article compares STS rider quality with present day public transportation standards. A Swedish rider quality index is used to examine a stated preference questionnaire sent to 2,200 randomly chosen riders in Stockholm Goeteborg, and one rural district. Waiting time at telephone switchboard was weighed for the entire population to 81%, information to 53%, and driver assistance to 21% regarding trip frequency. A one minute waiting time at telephone switch board corresponded to 17.5 minutes of travel time in the vehicle. Several ride categories are discussed. The results of this analysis help to bring into focus decisive quality development aspects of the regular public transportation system from a city perspective. This is important especially in encouraging the elderly to use the regular public transportation system more. A public transportation stsandard must be offered that is adequate and that corresponds in quality to what both employed and elderly disabled riders want and need in accordance to their capabilities. Questions concerning timetable, information. and driver assistance are brought forward as important attraction components.
Abstract