IN-PERSON London. Section A

Abstract

Public transport in today’s society is of great significance since it directly and indirectly affects individuals’ Quality of Life (QoL). This study investigates the intersection of public transport and QoL within the context of Tehran, Iran, a rapidly growing city facing numerous urban challenges. This paper focuses on the attributes of public transport which affect the QoL of users by providing a Public Transport Quality of Life (PTQoL) framework as well as examining this framework in Tehran. This framework is provided by a through literature review on QoL and public transport trying to find out the intersections between these two areas. This research uses the user measure (Subjective Indicator) generated from Customer Satisfaction Surveys (CSS), that offer qualitative indicators of public transport service quality based on the users’ perceptions and expectations. This study employs Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to evaluate passenger satisfaction and identify areas for improvement in Tehran’s bus and metro systems, as perceived by passengers. Data collection involves conducting a survey through the JISC online platform, reaching out to over 1100 individuals in Tehran, resulting in 302 responses. The study has identified multiple issues that contribute to a negative perception of Tehran’s public transportation system among its users. These issues are categorized into two groups: system-wide issues and modal-specific issues. Multiple modes of transportation are affected by system-wide issues including access to real-time information and seat availability. Moreover, modal-specific issues refer to problems that are specific to the bus or metro such as frequency and punctuality of buses and safety and security in metro wagons. The study highlights the need for policymakers to address these concerns and improve the public transportation system in Tehran to meet the needs and expectations of its users.