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In New York
Public Transportation Passengers Avoid Getting
Social
Fostering a socially accommodating environment could attract more
passengers to public transit.
By Cristen Conger | Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:35 AM ET
THE GIST:
The public transit social environment is comparable to the feeling inside a crowded
elevator.
Sixty percent of public transit passengers intentionally avoid social interaction.
Passengers are 30 percent more likely to converse when sitting across from each
other than side-by-side.
Forced to sit uncomfortably close to strangers, a majority of public transit passengers go
out of their way to avoid social interaction, according to recent survey data.
Jared Thomas, a former doctoral student in psychology at the University of Victoria who
works for Opus International Consultants, observed and surveyed 1,703 train and bus
riders in New Zealand to identify their social needs and behaviors.
Fifty percent of respondents said they intentionally engage in isolating activities, such as
listening to music or reading, to discourage conversation.
The study concluded that side-by-side seating arrangements and standoffish behaviors
create a socially uncomfortable environment akin to a crowded elevator.
Thomas thinks that fostering a friendlier atmosphere would improve the ride experience
and attract more public transit customers.
"I think the key thing is that it's important to get a balance, looking at improvements for the
social and privacy needs of the users, neither of which are being met under current
design," Thomas said.
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City, Jorge Ribas gets a glimpse
into the future of transportation.
For instance, Thomas recommends altering seats
to face each other since riders are 30 percent
more likely to converse at that distance.
Passengers also respond well to L-shaped seating, arm rests and small tables that
establish more interpersonal distance.
While some transit systems have replaced awkward three-person benches with two-person
or single seating, social dynamics are often overlooked in favor of maximizing rider
capacity.
"Public transit is public transit," said Joel Volenski, director of the National Center for
Transit Research at the University of South Florida. "It's not a taxi; it's not intended to be
that kind of conveyance."
Volenski noted that some transit agencies have addressed passenger comfort in other
ways, such as designating quiet train cars and installing televisions in buses and trains.
In addition to modifying seating design, Thomas also suggests promoting sociable -- but
not intrusive -- behaviors to passengers and transit operators. Based on his research, even
something as simple as making eye contact and smiling can relieve tension in a crowded
commuter vehicle.
"Overall, there's evidence that a positive social environment does improve the
pleasantness of the trip, and improves attitudes toward the other passengers," Thomas
said. "Also, as a long-term strategy, interaction is more successful than defense at
mitigating social discomfort."
Cristen Conger is a writer for HowStuffWorks.com.
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