Posts Tagged: Transit Ridership

08
Nov

2012

World’s Cutest Transit Vehicle: Hello Kitty Tram & Transit Ridership/Marketing

Over the years at the Gondola Project, we’ve probably seen some of the world’s most awesome-looking and unconventional transit vehicle designs. However, when it comes down to the world’ most kawaii (Japanese for cute) mode of transport, the Hello Kitty Trams seen around the world is by far the clear winner (I challenge you to find a more adorable example!).

So while this may seem a little childish at first, a quick google search reveals that Hello Kitty merchandising is no joke. Reports indicate that this global icon generates $1-5 billion dollars annually! And where I’m from, that’s a whole lotta dough — enough to build you Vancouver’s Canada Line two times over or hire Kobe Bryant for the next 180 years.

Hello Kitty Tram HK. Image by Flickr User Joseph Tse.

Milan

Anyways, on a more serious note, I think these Hello Kitty trams may make for an interesting case study from a transit planning perspective. If this cartoon cat truly has so much clout and influence, it may not be so asinine to think that an entire Hello Kitty themed transit line could act as some sort of catalyst to spur more transit ridership. Afterall, adding a little fun to public transport never hurt anyone.

And oh yeah, did I forget to mention, the airline industry has already picked up on this idea. And if you still not convince this could work, Hello Kitty jets have a reported average seat occupancy of 90%, compared to just 78% of regular aircrafts.

Hello Kitty Jet. Image by Flickr user Lin.y.c.



Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.

02
Sep

2011

Canadians “Reluctant” to use Public Transit

Last week the Globe and Mail reported on a Statistics Canada study showing that “the vast majority of commuters remain reluctant to use public transit, despite public campaigns encouraging people of its environmental and cost benefits.”

The study goes on to state that “commuters who used public transit took considerably longer to get to work than those who lived an equivalent distance from their place of work and went by car.”

Canada-wide, transit users spent 44 minutes traveling to work compared to drivers who only took 24 minutes.

See the problem here?

Note the wording in the very first sentence of the article (quoted above): “commuters remain reluctant to use public transit, despite public campaigns encouraging people of its environmental and cost benefits.”

This suggests, of course, that transit agencies and governments in Canada honestly believed the way to get people to use transit is to advertise to them; that it is a problem of awareness and education.

Have you ever known someone to use the subway based solely on the fact that they saw an advertisement? Me neither.

Here’s a thought: Maybe the reason Canadians aren’t taking public transit more is because it takes double the amount of time as it would to drive. No amount of advertising or “encouraging” is going to change that until the time gap between the car and public transit is narrowed.

Treat the disease, not the symptom.



Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.