Can the multimodal real time information systems induce a more sustainable mobility ?

Modern cities show an increasing interest in Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATISs), with a growing attention to real time multimodal information. Through those systems, decision makers hope to achieve a shift from the car to alternative, environment-friendly modes of travel. Unfortunately, few comprehensive assessments have been undertaken in order to verify the actual contribution of ATISs to such modal shift. This paper aims at assessing the effects on travel behaviour of Optimod’Lyon, a multimodal real-time information navigator for smartphone, developed in Lyon in 2013 and launched in May 2015. To this end, a quali-quantitative approach was adopted, administering a questionnaire and organising focus groups before and after the test of the application, involving a stratified sample of 50 people living in the metropolitan area of Lyon. The Theory of Planned Behaviour was used as the theoretical framework for the questionnaire design, investigating attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. To evaluate the behavioural change, data were analysed using parametric and non-parametric tests, factor analysis and binary logistic regression. Survey participants were initially interested on the Optimod’Lyon and showed a positive attitude towards its use. Prior to the test, they evaluated positively the travel planner , but this lessened over time and, after the test, the use of the different travel modes remained stable, showing a consistency on the most used mode, on behavioural patterns and attitudes, strongly related to habits and to the frequency of the past behaviour.