Blog 10: Report on resident participation during the review of Ring I bus routes completed
We received over 16,000 answers via the various methods of resident participation in the review of Ring I bus routes during autumn 2022 and in early 2023.
Residents have participated in the planning by taking surveys (travel survey and survey on the draft bus route plans for Ring I), by commenting our blog posts, by filling in travel diaries, by sending feedback and by participating in workshops, in-depth interviews and data testing interviews. We would like to thank everyone for their input!
Our goal has been accurate basic information about our customers' needs
In the fall, during the early stages of the project, we engaged with residents through various channels. We have written several blog posts in Finnish based on the results (blog posts 3, 4 and 6).
We have now written a comprehensive report on all resident participation that you can read here. The report is available in Finnish.
In this blog post, we will discuss the content of the resident participation report on a general level. The report is an in-depth analysis of resident participation, so we recommend that you scan through it.
In addition to the content of the report, we will discuss in detail the way that residents have been able to impact the results of the planning, as well as all the wishes that the residents have expressed regarding the review of Ring I bus routes that we are unable to implement, at least for now.
We have also compiled a list of these areas at the end of the report.
The goal of the review of resident participation and other related background material was to gather information on what the residents hope for and how they travel in order to support the planning of Ring I bus routes and provide it with baseline data.
In addition to the planning of the bus routes, it has also been our goal to gain a deeper understanding of how public transport is used and how the residents see public transport services as a whole, how public transport could be developed and what kind of potential it has, as well as the aspects that affect the appeal and growth potential of public transport.
The purpose of gaining a deeper understanding was to acquire more detailed information about the needs that the residents have in regard to developing our services on a more general level.
Data in the report on resident participation
The report has been compiled on the basis of the results gained from resident participation in autumn 2022. We have used various methods to analyse the data separately and as one entity. This has enabled us to examine the public transport services on Ring I and the manner in which people travel on a general level from various different points of view. The following data has been utilized in the report:
• Travel survey (N=9454)
o The survey aimed at the residents living near Ring I and those using Ring I included questions on where the residents travel from and how, to which destinations and what kind of wishes they have in regard to public transport on Ring I.
• Expert interviews (N=3)
o The phenomena, framework and concepts regarding travelling were outlined together with three different researchers and experts.
• Participant observation
o Five visits on buses in the vicinity of Ring I, each one lasting for 2–4 hours.
• Travel diaries (N=18)
o The digital travel diaries provided a window into the experiences, conceptions and needs that different customers had in regard to travelling.
• In-depth interviews (N=9)
o The interviews were conducted with some of the persons who had filled in a travel diary with the purpose of gaining a more in-depth understanding of the experiences and needs that the persons had. Five interviews were conducted as contextual interviews, in the home of the person in question or while the person was travelling. In addition, four interviews were conducted as Teams interviews.
• Workshops East and West (N=18)
o The workshops focused on assessing and developing the current state of public transport services on Ring I. Moreover, the workshops also centered around identifying planning solutions and compromises thereof through group effort.
It is important to note that the data used in the report has been collected from individuals living or travelling in the area around Ring I.
This is why the results and conclusions are not applicable as such e.g. to the manner in which people travel in downtown Helsinki. Nor can the results be used to make a generalized review of all groups of people and residents.
The content of the resident participation report
The report deals with both qualitative and quantitative data. This data made it possible to include results from various points of view in the report in relation to e.g. public transport services on Ring I and the use of public transport services on a more general level.
With the help of the in-depth interviews, it was possible to create four generalized user profiles with the purpose of gaining a deeper understanding of the users of public transport around Ring I. In addition to needs and profiles, the report also includes six different themes that affect the manner in which people travel.
Each theme has an impact on the selection of the means of transport and the experience the person has during the journey. These themes appear throughout the report as a central subject matter that is examined from other points of view. The six different themes affecting the manner in which people travel are:
Familiarity
• Familiarity is a factor that indicates how easily, spontaneously and versatilely a person is able to use public transport. Familiarity overlaps with other central themes and is closely associated with e.g. the theme of control.
Control
• Public transport is a sociomaterial space that is difficult to control. A strong sense of control will improve the experience that a person has of travelling and how smoothly they can use public transport. Compared to passive users, active users of public transport feel that they have a stronger sense of control when using public transport. Passive users often regard public transport as a disruption to their sense of control and as an interference in their own agency.
Smoothness
• Smoothness refers to practical matters, such as how well the public transport service works, the journey time, timetables, number of transfers and how well they work, purchase of tickets, planning the journey and other similar matters. Even though using public transport is generally a smooth process, buses are often considerably slower compared to using an own car or sometimes even an own bicycle. Moreover, using public transport is more difficult for special groups.
Economy
• Economy played a significant role in choosing the means of transport, especially for certain drivers. Some drivers would like to use their own car less frequent due to high costs, whereas others choose to use their car to travel around due to the fact that they have already invested a considerable sum in their own car. An active user of public transport often feels that they get value for their money, whereas an occasional user thinks that ticket prices are high.
Safety
• The safety of urban space is a subject that often comes up, especially when talking about certain stops and stations along Ring I. The feeling of insecurity is connected to social situations and threats that one’s surroundings poses.
The feeling of insecurity has a significant impact on user experience as well as on which means of transport is chosen and when the journey takes place. The feeling of insecurity is often born out of lack of control.
Pleasantness
• Pleasantness is used in reference to how pleasant and comfortable the journey is. Pleasantness also refers to the feeling that a person has of the social and material environment during the journey. In addition to functional needs, some people place a considerable amount of emphasis on the feeling they get from a pleasant journey. In fact, the feeling can be so strong that an unpleasant experience will make the person switch to another means of transportation (if possible).
The report also discusses travelling as a phenomenon. In this context, the report includes a couple of historical and present-day concepts, points of view and phenomena concerning the use of public transport as well as some turning points in the routines regarding travelling. At the end of the report, there is a summary of the above-mentioned aspects.
How were the results of the resident participation used, how are they going to be used in the future and how did feedback from the residents affect the planning?
We have gathered a significant amount of information and understanding in relation to the needs that the residents have on the bus routes on Ring I, as well as how the residents travel and use public transport on a more general level. We would like to thank everyone for their input!
The information and understanding gathered from the residents have impacted the planning and the decision-making regarding the bus routes. In addition, the information has also indirectly contributed to building a deeper understanding of the matters at hand. We cannot directly indicate how all the information we have received has affected specific actions or the general timeline.
A large part of the understanding and the related actions for further development will require work in the long run and close cooperation with our stakeholders. For example, bus stop environments, the improvement of safety and walkability are areas that we cannot develop all by ourselves. However, information on the needs and objects of development has reached many in our organisation and among our stakeholders.
As regards the work that HSL carries out, the report on resident participation in particular is considered to provide important baseline data for both current and forthcoming projects.
Below you will find a summary of how the opinions of residents have been taken into consideration, how the gained understanding has been applied and shared and which aspects regarding the bus routes on Ring I will not be implemented at this point, despite wishes from the residents.
Why was draft plan A chosen?
You can find a more detailed justification for selecting draft plan A in our previous blog post here. Below you will find a more concise reasoning behind the decision.
• Draft A was given a slightly higher grade than draft B in the survey on the bus routes on Ring I (3.06 vs. 2.85).
• Based on the survey, draft B would decrease the use of public transport more than draft A.
• It was not yet possible to verify the potential that draft B has in increasing the use of public transport and ticket revenue on a sufficient level.
• The annual operating costs in draft A are slightly lower than in draft B.
• Bus routes 54 and 553 that currently serve Ring I are popular and among the best in the area in terms of their cost-effectiveness.
• Draft plan A will provide route 54 with long-awaited weekend services.
How residents impacted the planning and decision-making concerning the selected Ring I bus route network
• Apart from route variant 553K, the current bus routes were kept in the new bus route network.
o The reasoning behind this decision has been stated above. However, a bus route that would serve Ring I from one end to the other can be established later, if need be.
• Route 54 will begin to operate on weekends.
o The fact that route 54 did not operate on weekends was one of the central problems in the current situation.
How the residents’ needs and development ideas regarding public transport on a general level and the development of the area near Ring I have progressed?
• An employer information session and an expert workshop were held internally by HSL based on the understanding gained from residents and the results of the resident participation.
o A large group of experts from different units at HSL took part in the employer information session.
o The workshop focused on examining the development of services and actions thereof in the long run based on the needs and development ideas from the residents.
• Utilizing the results of the report on resident participation for the Ring I bus routes.
o The report and information provided by the residents have been actively distributed among experts from various units at HSL and the content of the report has and will be used as baseline data in several projects.
• Discussions with stakeholders on the basis of the report on resident participation.
o The report has been sent to HSL’s stakeholders and partners to ensure that the information on the needs and areas of development can also be shared with key persons outside HSL.
The following will not be implemented at this point despite wishes from residents
• Bus lane on Ring I
Many had hoped for a bus lane on Ring I. However, adding bus lanes to Ring I would require comprehensive cooperation with stakeholders, an increase in the number of passengers using public transport on Ring I and possibly a direct bus route that would operate on Ring I.
In other words, a bus lane will not be added during autumn 2025. However, we have now identified this need, meaning that it is possible to continue the discussion if the number of passengers using public transport on Ring I increases.
• Bus route serving Ring I from one end to the other
Once the results of the resident participation during the autumn were analysed, there was a clear desire and need for a direct bus route that would run on Ring I from one end to the other in a manner similar to that of a trunk bus route.
However, despite comprehensive analyses, it was not yet possible determine whether such a route would have the potential to increase the number of public transport users.
This is why the route will not at this point be established. Nevertheless, we have now identified the need for and the potential of such a route, which is why the matter can be examined in detail in the future.
Comment on our blog text!
Do you have any questions? You can post questions in the comment section below this blog post. Since August 2022, this blog has functioned as the primary communications channel for us to provide our customers with information on how the review of Ring I bus routes is progressing and how our customers have been able to take part in the planning.
We will also create a survey between late spring and early summer with the purpose of mapping out the residents’ experiences on taking part in the project. Later on, we will publish more information on our various communication channels. Finally, we will publish a final report on the review of Ring I bus routes during the summer.
It’s great that you have discovered our blog on the review of Ring I bus routes! This blog is updated by the public transport planners at HSL and functions as an official channel for interacting with our customers. The blog gives you an opportunity to have a discussion with us. Participate in the planning and voice your opinion!
The planning will be carried out from autumn 2022 to spring 2023. According to estimate, the possible changes to the Ring I bus routes will be implemented in 2025. You can find more information on the review of Ring I bus routes here.