Aim, Scope, Conceptual Framework and Definitions

Mobility is a basic requirement of modern society. Distance separates individuals’ homes from places where they work, shop, do business, undertake leisure and recreational activities, and socially interact. Public transit plays a key role in reducing social exclusion by offering access to these fundamental life activities. For example, in Sweden and in Great Britain, one-quarter of households do not own a car (SIKA, 2008; DfT, 2012). Moreover, access to a car is not equally distributed amongst the population, and varies by age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status. Particular groups are more reliant on public transportation than others (Kunieda and Gauthier, 2007; Raphael et al. 2006). Furthermore, there are obvious environmental benefits in promoting public transport as a means of sustainable travel (Steg and Gifford, 2005). Since public transportation is a cornerstone of sustainable development, passengers deserve convenient and reliable transportation systems. However, getting people to use public transportation systems is not just a matter of making them efficient and cost effective. Passengers need to feel safe not just at stops and stations but also during their entire journey. Transportation systems encompass more than buses, trains and infrastructure. They constitute actual transit environments in which individuals spend time on a daily basis and are, therefore, important settings in everyday life. Indeed, one in five Europeans spend on average more than two hours a day commuting in these transit environments (Stepstone, 2012).