This paper presents some of the results of the TIGER (Transport Integration in the Gwent Economic Region) market research study, completed in March 2000. The area covered by the study in South Wales was the town of Newport and its environs, and the Welsh valleys and rural hinterland nearby. The project's objectives were to: (1) provide evidence to support the prioritisation of investment for bus and rail services; and (2) collect profile information and travel patterns of users and non-users of public transport services. The project's public participation exercises were focus groups, questionnaire surveys of bus users and non-users of public transport, and pilot surveys. All survey results were entered into an Excel spreadsheet for initial analysis, then tabulated using SPSS software to explore relationships between variables. The focus groups showed a wide difference between the levels of public transport near towns and in the valleys, and many perceived obstacles to the wide use of public transport, especially for work journeys. There were 1468 interviews of bus users and 931 responded from non-users of public transport. The paper recommends several improvements to bus services, including: (1) better information; (2) improved service coverage, frequency, and reliability; (3) affordable fare structures; and (4) higher actual and perceived levels of personal security.
Samenvatting