Exploring travel behaviour using a gamified web-based application “Catch the Bus©”

Introduction

The ability to travel independently is crucial to maintaining quality of life and a sense of belonging and participation within the community one might live in. Public transportation (PT) is one mode of independent travel available to all community members; however, not all are able to take advantage of this service due to accessibility issues and/or a lack of skills necessary to navigate PT. Most users of public transportation learn travel training through incidental usage; however, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) require formal travel training to gain the necessary skills for PT.

Methods

We developed Catch the Bus© (CtB), a gamified web-based application, to facilitate effective travel training for individuals with IDDs, incorporating principles of gamification and learning theories. To explore the efficacy of CtB, a pilot case study was implemented. Participants in this mixed-methods study included high school students with IDDs. Data sources included pre-post-CtB training surveys, logfiles, and journal reflections of applied CtB training as participants navigated their city.

Results

Following CtB training, individuals with IDDs showed improved travel behaviour, positive views and attitudes towards PT, and enhanced self-efficacy using PT. CtB, as a pedagogical agent, is efficacious in decreasing anxiety, increasing confidence, and subsequently increasing user self-efficacy, hence reflecting positive experiences with PT. The acquired skills and attitudes would enable individuals with IDDs to navigate PT, which is key to their independent living and community participation.

Conclusions

By engaging in CtB training with marginalized populations such as individuals with IDDs, equitable and independent PT ridership can be realized. Accordingly, community integration becomes enhanced, which leads to increased ridership and a positive effect on transit sector revenues. To witness these outcomes, transit planners, policy makers, and political leaders need to re-envision transit systems as critical infrastructure for supporting all members of the community.