Quick survey for my senior thesis: I need your input!

Hey everyone. 🙂

I’m studying economics over in Switzerland, and I need to dig into the American bus market for my thesis.
The data is for a Swiss transit company looking at potential investments here in the States.

If you could briefly answer these questions and give me your honest take—no need to answer all of them—it would be a huge help.

1. Where are you located? (Big city, small town, suburbs?)

2. How do you get around for short trips under 5-3.7 miles miles, and what about longer hauls? (Bike, bus, car, subway, train?)

3. Have you noticed any differences in travel habits based on gender, age, or income? (For example, do younger or wealthier people prefer cars for status? Do women avoid certain transit routes due to safety concerns?)

4. How happy are you with the bus lines regarding punctuality, schedules, routes, or comfort? Is there a noticeable quality gap between private long-distance carriers and local city transit?

5. What would actually need to change with private or city bus services to make you choose the bus more often?

Thanks in advance. Every bit of info helps. 🙂

1. Where are you all located? I’m out in the suburbs—technically part of a smaller town's outskirts—but my place is basically just a stone's throw from the Washington, D.C. city limits.

2. How do you get around for short trips—say, under 5-3.7 miles miles—versus longer hauls? Honestly, it’s the bus or the subway for me, regardless of the distance.

3. Have you noticed any real patterns in how different people travel—you know, based on gender, age, or socioeconomic status? Not really, though I suppose everyone uses public transit, whereas it's pretty obvious that those with less money rely entirely on the bus/subway, while the wealthy almost exclusively drive their own cars.

4. How happy are you with the bus lines? Specifically regarding punctuality, schedules, routes, or general comfort—and is there a noticeable quality gap between private long-distance carriers and local city transit?
Around here, we have two main bus companies serving us. One actually has decent, modern buses with working AC, but the other... well, they run these ancient, beat-up vehicles that have seen better days. To make matters worse, the summer schedule is incredibly sparse, and the buses are rarely on time.

5. What changes would actually convince you to take the bus more often? For my part, it comes down to the competition—either the city should consolidate everything under one provider, or the second company needs to invest in a new fleet. It just doesn't feel right paying the same high fare to ride in a brand-new coach versus an old wreck.

1. Where do you live? (big city, small town, near or far from downtown?)
I live in Washington, D.C., though not right in the heart of the city.

2. How do you get around for short trips—say, under 53.7 miles miles—and how about longer ones? (bike, bus, car, subway, train?)
For quick errands, I usually hop on a train or grab my bike.
When I have to go further, I mostly rely on the bus or my car.
3. Have you noticed any differences in travel habits based on gender, age, or wealth? (maybe younger or wealthier people drive more for status, or women avoid certain transit due to safety concerns, etc.?)
The younger, wealthier crowd tends to favor cars, while older folks seem to stick to the buses and subways quite a bit.
That said, you'll see people from all walks of life using public transit. 🙂
4. How satisfied are you with the bus lines regarding punctuality, schedules, routes, or comfort? Is there a noticeable quality gap between private carriers (for long distances) and local city lines?
I'm actually pretty happy with the buses. My only gripe is that the frequency could be better; it’s frustrating when they only run every 25 minutes during certain hours.
5. What changes would make the private or city bus systems more appealing to you?
Honestly, nothing comes to mind.

By the way, amberheron64, are you from a suburb like Arlington? 🍿

1. Living in a smaller city.

2. How do you get around? For short trips up to 5-3.7 miles, I bike. For anything longer, it’s either a car or taking the bus.

3. Noticed any patterns in how people travel—gender, age, or income levels? Yeah, the younger crowd and anyone on a budget just go for whatever’s cheapest.

4. Thoughts on the bus system? Reliability, schedules, comfort... any difference between private long-distance lines and local city transit? Long-distance buses are definitely more comfortable, but the city lines are actually on time and run much more frequently.

5. What would make you use the bus more often? Lower ticket prices. Period.

1. Where do you live? (big city, small town, near or far from downtown?)
- 7.5 miles from Cleveland (pop. 150,000)

2. How do you get around for short trips (up to 5-3.7 miles miles), and what about longer ones? (bike, bus, car, light rail, train?)
- For short trips, within 5-3.7 miles miles of home—I drive
- To Cleveland, I take the bus because parking is such a nightmare

3. Have you noticed any differences in travel habits based on gender, age, or income? (e.g., do younger or wealthier people drive more for status, or do women avoid trains due to safety concerns?)
- There are definitely differences. On "my" bus, there are almost no men over 20 since they all drive, so it's mostly students and middle-aged women who are clearly on a tighter budget (wealthier folks always have their monthly garage pass paid for via 😬)

4. How happy are you with the bus lines regarding punctuality, schedules, routes, or comfort? Is there a quality gap between private long-distance carriers and local city transit?
- The main difference is just the comfort level. You see it between city transit (the worst buses), commuter lines (slightly better), and intercity coaches (actually decent buses)
- As for the commuter lines I use—they are punctual to the second

5. What would need to change in the public or private bus systems to make you use them more often?
- I already use the bus, but for everyone else... I’d say the biggest hurdle is just the habit. Everyone is so set on driving their own car to work every morning; that's the hardest thing to change (especially with men). People would probably ride a bus to the bathroom if they could! Price isn't the issue, since a parking permit costs way more than a monthly bus pass. I have colleagues who, if they don't have a company car, will call their wives to pick them up from the other side of town because they haven't stepped foot on a bus in 30 years, and for them, it's simply not an option.

1. midtown hub 🙂 downtown
2. usually take the bus for pretty much everything
3. I’ve noticed a pattern: it’s mostly kids and college students, then retirees, then women. You barely see any guys over 25. My guess? The first two groups are doing it because they have to, while the guys think it’ll "ruin their reputation."
4. Punctuality isn't my biggest issue, but man, I have problems with most of the city transit and the intercity lines: you’ve got teenagers standing around like sardines, there's a glaring lack of routes, and I’m convinced some of those long-distance buses are fifty years old. I find myself white-knuckling the seat and praying to God I actually make it to my destination alive. 😳
5. Instead of these ancient relics, just bring in decent buses with actual working seats and enough AC to breathe...

Gregory Chavez5 said:1. Where do you live? (Big city, small town, suburbs?)

2. How do you handle short trips—say, under 5-3.7 miles miles—versus longer ones? (Bike, bus, car, subway, train?)

3. Have you noticed any patterns in how people travel based on gender, age, or socioeconomic status? (For instance, do younger or wealthier folks prefer cars for the status, or do women opt for trains more often due to safety concerns?)

4. How would you rate the bus systems regarding punctuality, schedules, routes, or comfort? Is there a noticeable gap in quality between private long-distance lines and local city transit?

5. What one change to the public or private bus system would actually convince you to ditch your car and take the bus more often?

1. A smaller town, about 20 miles outside of St. Louis.

2. For anything under 6 miles, I bike; up to 20 miles, I take the bus; for anything longer than that, I'm on the train.

3. I haven't really seen a major divide—though, obviously, those who can afford it tend to drive, even if it ends up being more expensive over long distances.

4. Regarding the bus lines in my area, I’d say I’m more frustrated than satisfied. The only real upside is that they’re punctual, but they seem to constantly hike up fares under the guise of "upgrading the fleet"—even when the current buses are perfectly fine. They also cut student discounts and slashed several routes recently. In my experience, there's a massive gulf between local transit and intercity lines; the city buses are in significantly worse shape.

5. Honestly? The price. A round trip for 19 miles near me runs about $15 (round trip), or roughly $90 a month for a pass.