Date of Award
Spring 1973
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Abstract
The problem. Studies of bus driver robbery and assault conducted in various parts of the country for the purpose of developing crime preventive and innovative driver protection remedies, indicated the possibility of such behavior contributing to the decline in mass transit patronage. This study investigates whether a meaningful relationship exists between the decrease in passengers carried by the Burleigh Street bus service and the effect of experience or beliefs of riders and prospective riders relative to incidents of on-bus crime and vandalism in a corridor along the route; also, an attempt was made to identify a relationship between such beliefs and experience on passenger usage as related to socio-economic levels. The procedure. Two closed form questionnaires were designed, pretested, and revised prior to executing the final survey of riders using the Burleigh Street bus and non-riders living adjacent to the route. Both questionnaires contained five questions pertaining to crime, vandalism, and personal security and eleven questions having reference to transit service characteristics. Rider questionnaires were identified with their point of distribution by a number assigned to their address. Riders were asked to fill out and return their questionnaire while enroute, but were permitted to use a mail-back option when they requested it. The corridor group received questionnaires by mail. Questionnaire responses were coded, data cards were punched and programs were written which tabulated answers to each question and to specific combinations of questions chosen to evaluate the impact of crime and vandalism on respondents by zones preselected on the basis of socio-economic differences, experience and beliefs, frequency of bus usage, age and sex. The results. Transit crime and vandalism does have an adverse effect on passenger usage and the effect is more pronounced as the distance from the position on the route decreases relative to the central city. However, the service factors, such as frequency of service, fare level, convenience of routes and travel time, are more influential on transit users and non-users.
Recommended Citation
Roemer, Forrest P., "The Problem of Personal Security in Buses Along a Transit Route in Milwaukee and Its Effects on Ridership" (1973). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 5515.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/5515