A study financed by the Swiss National Research Fund and completed in 2000 developed two sets of questions: First, how great a role does the quality of an interchange play in convincing people to use a combination of different means of transport? Secondly, in order to enhance the appeal of transfer points, should they be improved in architectural terms, in terms of their facilities, or rather by co-ordinating the timetables of the transport means they offer? This research is based on three different sources: the 1994 transportation microcensus (a national poll on transport use, around 18,000 people), a comparative study of 8 sites (urban and suburban stations) combined with qualitative interviews, and finally a poll of 1,600 people in 4 different districts in Bern and Geneva. The main results lead to the conclusion that, in certain cases, using a transfer point can be an advantage likely to contribute to making the use of public transportation more attractive. When the continuity of a journey is broken by a change in transport systems, it can become an opportunity to carry out mini-activities that save time or make the most of a journey. However, this does not mean that the only factor to be considered in optimising the attractiveness of a transfer point in a railway station is the quality of its facilities. The way this space is perceived by the user is a function of not only the place, but also of the person's character. The research showed that the people who perceive these interchanges more favourably by appropriating the space and making use of the time they spend within the public transport system are those who adopt a flexible method of planning their journeys and activities. They are open to opportunity and do not hesitate to change their travel plans to accommodate unexpected incidents (How can I make use of the half-hour wait caused by my train's delay?) or discoveries (I didn't know this boutique existed in this station - I'll explore it and take the next tramway instead). In order to facilitate flexible planning, it is important to develop a system of public transport that allows for multiple appropriation that is not predetermined. To attain this goal, it is recommended that standardised transport supply be established. Frequency and hours of service should be standardised according to transport category and adapted to all types or daily mobility - and not just to travel between home and the workplace. The author's recommendation further concerns the facilities in railway stations-transfer points, which could also be standardised by category of station and even labelled.
Samenvatting