
Research consistently shows that what people value most isn’t cost – it’s certainty. The ability to reliably reach their destination at a predictable time far outweighs fare considerations.
Think of it this way: When buses and trains deliver consistent, dependable service, more people choose to use them. This increased ridership generates more revenue, enabling further investments in service quality. It’s a powerful upward spiral.
Simply adding more buses or routes doesn’t automatically increase ridership. The real game-changer is quality of service: reliability, predictability, and consistency. Cities that focus on these aspects, rather than just expanding capacity, see sustained growth in public transport usage.
The evidence is clear – from Singapore to Zurich, successful public transport systems prioritize service quality over sheer quantity. When you build reliable public transport, people will choose to use it.
What examples have you seen of cities successfully prioritizing service quality over system size?