People's Attitudes Toward Automated Vehicle and Transit Integration: Case Study of Small Urban Areas

TL;DR

This study investigates public attitudes toward automated vehicle and transit integration in small urban areas, revealing general support but also concerns, with attitudes influenced by technology familiarity and transit usage.

Contribution

It provides new insights into small urban areas' public perceptions of AV-transit integration, an area previously understudied compared to large urban settings.

Findings

Respondents are aware of AV and driving assistance technologies.

Support for AV-transit integration is generally positive.

Transit users are more favorable toward AV integration.

Abstract

Previous surveys of public attitudes toward automated vehicle (AV) and transit integration primarily took place in large urban areas. AV-transit integration also has a great potential in small urban areas. A survey of public attitudes towards AV-transit integration was carried out in two small urban areas in Wisconsin, United States. A total of 266 finished responses were analyzed using text mining, factor analysis, and regression analysis. Results showed that respondents knew about AVs and driving assistance technologies. Respondents welcome AV-transit integration but were unsure about its potential impacts. Technology-savvy respondents were more positive but had more concerns about AV-transit integration than others. Respondents who enjoyed driving were not necessarily against transit, as they were more positive about AV-transit integration and were more willing to use automated buses than those who did not enjoy driving as much. Transit users were more positive toward AV-transit integration than non-transit users.