The Feasibility of a Bus System on Scarborough Campus - Essay Example

?The Feasibility of a Bus System on Scarborough Campus This study looked at the feasibility of implementing a bus service on Scarborough Campus. While most students indicated that safety was the most important aspect of the bus service , ahead of price and service there are indications that the service may not be feasible as the majority of students either, never take a bus, walk to school or live in the dormitory. However, the research methodology and limitations in the study reveal that the sample was not randomly selected, as it was done by classmates and a few other students. Contents 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Aims of research 1.2 Background to research 2.0 Research Description and Methodology 2.1 Plan of research 2.2 Discussion of Methods 3.0 Data Collection 3.1 Data Collection Procedures 3.2 Sampling Method 4.0 Findings 4.1 Overall Findings 4.2 Highlights of Significant Findings 5.0 Conclusion and Limitations 5.1 Summary and conclusion 5.2 Limitations 6.0 References 7.0 Appendix 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Aims of research The aim of this research is to determine the feasibility of introducing a bus service on the Scarborough campus. This, we hope, will provide a major step forward in the development of student facilities. This research also serves to fulfil partial requirements of my degree programme. 1.2 Background to research The Scarborough campus does not currently have a school bus and so the implementation of such a system would help to alleviate some of the problems that students currently face students in their efforts to arrive on the campus in time for classes. A properly run bus system would reduce lateness and provide a convenient means of getting from home to the campus. The bus will also help in transporting students between Scarborough campus and the main campus. However, the system would only make sense if it is feasible 2.0 Research Description and Methodology 2.1 Plan of research The research is in the form of a survey. Questionnaires were mailed to 50 students in order to get their responses to critical questions which would help us determine whether the bus system would be a feasible venture. The questionnaire employed the quantitative methodology. According to Zikmund (1997) the survey method provides a quick, inexpensive, efficient and accurate means of assessing information on the population. The questionnaire was designed to allow for five alternative choices in most cases. There was only one question requiring a yes or no answer. Only two questions were designed using the Likert scale with choices ranging from 1 to 5 with 1 being the weakest/lowest and 5 being the strongest/highest. Delanshire & Petrosky, 1998 indicates that: “Whenever you use checklists or rating scales, you simplify and more easily quantify people’s behaviors and attitudes. In the process you may lose valuable information.” (qtd. in Leedy and Ormrod, 2005, pg187). However, it is hoped that no valuable information is lost here. 2.2 Discussion of methods The research looks at key variables that will help determine the feasibility of the bus system such as where students live, the circumstances under which they would want to take a bus, how often they travel by bus, get an idea of the timetable which would suggest frequency of use and the price that students consider reasonable. These questions were derived from the consideration of factors that would make the system feasible. If there are no students who are in need of the service, it will not be workable. 3.0 Data Collection 3.1 Data Collection procedures Data was collected with the use of questionnaires which were emailed to the respondents. After they were returned the data was collated and analysed using graphs and charts. The questionnaire is included in the Appendix. 3.2 Sampling Method The sample was not randomly selected because of the time constraint. It was administered to classmates and a few other students. Therefore, we know that the sample chosen was biased. 4.0 Findings 4.1 Overall Findings Questionnaires were emailed to a total of 50 students, representing 2.5% of the school population. A total of 33 students, representing 66% of the sample responded. Five of the students represented year 1, there was none from year 2, twenty seven were in year 3, and one was from the masters’ level. In relation to the mode of transportation used, it was established that three of the students sampled rode to school, 25 walked, while one student took the bus and two students used services of taxis. Only 12 students thought that the bus service would be “very useful”, 18 thought it would be “a little useful”, one “totally not useful” and one “against”. In terms of the time it took students to get from their place of abode to campus, it was determined that 11 students lived within ten minutes of the campus, 12 lived within 15 minutes (1/4 hour) and ten lived within 30 minutes (1/2 hour). None of the students surveyed lived outside of 30 minutes travel time between the campus and their residence. Six students lived in the dormitory, 11 lived near the campus, 13 around Valley Bridge, three around the beach and none lived far away. When asked under what circumstances students would use the bus, six indicated only of the journey was far away; 13 indicated only if they were pressed for time, five indicated in certain weather conditions such as rain and snow. Seven students indicated that they would only use the bus service if they had an exam, have a lot of load which would be difficult to walk with, and if they were exhausted. The majority of students surveyed, representing 20 or 60.6% of the students responding to the sample have never taken the bus to school. Nine students took the bus two times per week; two students took the bus four times per week, one everyday and one other. In terms of the scheduling of the bus, students were asked to choose a schedule that would be most convenient to them. 54.55% of all participants in the survey liked the 8am – 10 am and 12 am to 5pm followed by 30.30% for the 9am to 10am and 1pm to 6pm between Monday and Friday. Approximately 10% thought that the services should be offered during the weekend. All other categories consisted to 3.03%. In terms of the number of buses to facilitate its efficiency and cost effectiveness the research revealed that eight students believe that two buses will be OK. 13 thinks that four houses would be OK, seven firms think that 6 buses will be OK, four thinks that 8 will be OK and one thinks otherwise. In terms of the price to be charge 45% as represented by 15 students indicated that the service should be free, 27% or nine indicated that they were willing to pay ?2 points for unlimited access for the week, with three students indicating ?3 for unlimited access, and one indicating ?4 for unlimited access for the week. Students were asked to rank their preferences among six items on the Likert Scale. The rankings has shown in the appendix indicated that they prefer safety to price and service respectively. Graphs and charts illustrating these findings can be found in the Appendix. 4.2 Highlights of Significant Findings Of note is that the graph for Question 7 indicates that 20 students of the 33 that responded to the survey have never taken the bus to Scarborough Campus. If this total is reflective of the population then there may be no need for the bus as over 60% of the student population may never use the bus service. However, it could mean that if a proper bus system is implemented they would use it instead of their current mode of transportation. These students are definitely some of the 25 that walk or ride, drive or take a taxi. Also of significant interest is the fact that the responses to question1 indicate that only 1 student from the sample takes the bus. If the sample is representative of the population then a bus service may not be needed as less than 1% or a negligible percentage of students currently travel on a bus to get to Scarborough Campus. In addition, the results from Question 11 indicates that 45% of the students sampled thought that the service should be free of cost and the others wanted unlimited service for between ?2 and ?4 per week, with unlimited access to the service. Based on the diagram for Question 6, only 36% of the students suggested that the service would be very helpful. However, 54% indicated that it is a little helpful. 5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations 5.1Summary and conclusion Based on the results of the survey we concluded that if the sample is representative of the population then the bus system does not appear feasible. A system of this nature would require heavy capitalisation and so there needs to be a level of certainty that it will be profitable. In order for this to happen, the bus system has to be used extensively by the student population. 5.2 The limitations of the research The limitations of this research are as follows. The sample was not randomly selected and so most of the students who responded were currently in their final year of the undergraduate degree program. This bus system is for the future and so emphasis should have been placed on the first and second year groups. That is the sample should include a higher percentage of those two groups. References Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. (2005) Practical Research: Planning and Design. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc Zikmund, W.G. (1997). Business Research Methods. 5th ed. USA: The Dryden Press, Harcourt Brace College Publishers Appendix Questionnaire 1) Which year are you studying? Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Master 2) How can you get to school? ride walking drive take bus take taxi 3) Do you think set up the school bus service is usefull? very helpful a little helpful totally not helpful against 4) How long you spend on your way to school? less than 10 minutes one quarter Half an hour One hour more than one hour 5) Where are you living? dormitory near the campus around valley bridge around the beach very far away Other (Please Specify): 6) What circumstance you can choose the school bus? journey faraway pressed for time visual environment to circumstances (like the rain and snow) depending on their situation and decide (such as examination, belongings too much, exhausted, etc.) Other (Please Specify): 7) How often you take bus to go to school? never twice one week fourth one week every day Other (Please Specify): 8) Which period do you think is fine for the timetable of the school bus? 8am-10am and 12am-5pm (from Monday to Friday) 9am-11am and 1pm-6pm (same with above) 10am-12am and 2pm-7pm (same with above) should offer during weekend Other (Please Specify): 9) How many buses do you think is OK? 2 4 6 8 Other (Please Specify): 10) Are you interesting in designing the bus line? Please select Yes or No 11) How about the price you think is better? 1free 2 pounds per week(no limited times) 3 pounds per week(no limited times) 4 pounds per week(no limited times) Other (Please Specify): 12) which factor do you prefer much?(from1 to 5 turn strong) 1 2 3 4 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- price -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- safe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- service -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- confort -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- waiting time -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- speed Read More