A survey of 8000 Australian commuters has revealed a high demand for Wi-Fi and contactless ticketing options when using public transport in major cities around the country.
(Waiting for the bus image
by Ben Cumming, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Results published by the Tourism and Transport Forum this month show that while commuters were keen for wireless internet access on trains, buses and trams, many of them wouldn't be willing to foot an increase in their ticket price. Instead, many would be happy to use a service supplemented by advertising.
"Customers indicated that [a Wi-Fi] service is appealing, with the majority of frequent users indicating they would most likely use these services if they were provided ... and although customers did not demonstrate a willingness to pay for the use of Wi-Fi on board public transport, 77 per cent indicated that a free service could be funded through advertising," the survey said.
The report added that installing Wi-Fi onto trains, trams and buses would lure more people out of their cars and onto the public services.
"The provision of Wi-Fi on public transport services has the potential to transform the idea of commuting as 'lost time' to an opportunity for social interaction or workplace productivity. To this end, this innovation may help to enhance the appeal of public transport over private vehicle use," the report said.
Some Sydney bus, ferry and rail passengers are currently experiencing the benefits of free public Wi-Fi thanks to the recently ousted New South Wales Labor government.
The survey also found that commuters now expect contactless or smart-card ticketing systems when they travel.
"10 years ago the notion of smart card or integrated ticketing within Australia would have been seen as an innovation. The current research suggests that this type of service is now viewed as a fundamental requirement of a modern public transport system," the report revealed.
More than half of the survey respondents said that smart card ticketing, like Queensland's goCard or Victoria's troubled myki project, is equally or more important than uncrowded, frequent and reliable services.
Commuters also said that smart-card ticketing helps to simplify complex journeys.
Sydney is yet to see the benefit of an integrated smart card system after ERG's Tcard project failed to deliver on key project milestones.
The NSW Government then announced a new consortium would build an e-ticketing system for the state with $1.2 billion in funding. The consortium includes Cubic Transportation Systems, the same company that deployed London's wildly successful Oyster card system and the Queensland goCard.
Cubic Transportation Systems told ZDNet Australia in March that Sydney's integrated smart ticketing system would be first rolled out to ferries in 2012 followed by CityRail train services and ending with Sydney Buses.
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