From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland

This study seeks to understand public opinion related to transport communication and services by delving into citizens’ insights highlighted in online posts. Public perceptions of transport communication and services is fundamental to developing more efficient, inclusive, and user-centered transport...

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Main Authors: Shane Mathews, Jenny Hou, Tan Yigitcanlar, Fahimeh Golbabaei, Nayomi Kankanamge, Adam Downie, Alexander Paz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019822500003X
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author Shane Mathews
Jenny Hou
Tan Yigitcanlar
Fahimeh Golbabaei
Nayomi Kankanamge
Adam Downie
Alexander Paz
author_facet Shane Mathews
Jenny Hou
Tan Yigitcanlar
Fahimeh Golbabaei
Nayomi Kankanamge
Adam Downie
Alexander Paz
author_sort Shane Mathews
collection DOAJ
description This study seeks to understand public opinion related to transport communication and services by delving into citizens’ insights highlighted in online posts. Public perceptions of transport communication and services is fundamental to developing more efficient, inclusive, and user-centered transportation. The objective was to reveal how Queenslanders perceive transportation communication and associated services within the broader digital discourse. It explores the accessibility of current communication platforms and channels employed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (Australia), with focus on public perceptions of transportation communication and services. A Netnography approach was used to analyze public comments from social and digital media to decipher prevailing sentiments and topics. Seven key themes in public discussions were identified: energy, disability, government funding, expansion of transport infrastructure, digital technology, health and safety, and quality of service. Among these ‘digital technology’ and ‘quality of service’ are directly related to communication, representing the use of digital tools to provide access to key transport-related information and the level of satisfaction with public transportation services. Despite generally positive attitudes towards transportation in Queensland, the study highlights a significant opportunity to enhance communication strategies and services to improve overall user experience, making transportation systems more user-friendly and accessible. The findings offer a consolidated understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of current transportation services and communication strategies across Queensland from the public’s perspective. Hence, transportation authorities can make informed decisions that reflect community priorities, needs, and desires, leading to improved service provision and develop effective and sustainable transportation solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-ffdd8fa043cb498d9bbb2df362582ab62025-02-09T05:01:17ZengElsevierTransportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives2590-19822025-01-0129101324From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in QueenslandShane Mathews0Jenny Hou1Tan Yigitcanlar2Fahimeh Golbabaei3Nayomi Kankanamge4Adam Downie5Alexander Paz6School of Advertising, Marketing & PR, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, AustraliaSchool of Communication, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, AustraliaSchool of Architecture & Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, AustraliaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, AustraliaSchool of Law and Society, University of Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, 4502, AustraliaSchool of Mathematics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, AustraliaSchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia; Corresponding author.This study seeks to understand public opinion related to transport communication and services by delving into citizens’ insights highlighted in online posts. Public perceptions of transport communication and services is fundamental to developing more efficient, inclusive, and user-centered transportation. The objective was to reveal how Queenslanders perceive transportation communication and associated services within the broader digital discourse. It explores the accessibility of current communication platforms and channels employed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (Australia), with focus on public perceptions of transportation communication and services. A Netnography approach was used to analyze public comments from social and digital media to decipher prevailing sentiments and topics. Seven key themes in public discussions were identified: energy, disability, government funding, expansion of transport infrastructure, digital technology, health and safety, and quality of service. Among these ‘digital technology’ and ‘quality of service’ are directly related to communication, representing the use of digital tools to provide access to key transport-related information and the level of satisfaction with public transportation services. Despite generally positive attitudes towards transportation in Queensland, the study highlights a significant opportunity to enhance communication strategies and services to improve overall user experience, making transportation systems more user-friendly and accessible. The findings offer a consolidated understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of current transportation services and communication strategies across Queensland from the public’s perspective. Hence, transportation authorities can make informed decisions that reflect community priorities, needs, and desires, leading to improved service provision and develop effective and sustainable transportation solutions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019822500003XTransport serviceTransport communicationPublic perceptionSocial mediaSentiment analysisQueensland
spellingShingle Shane Mathews
Jenny Hou
Tan Yigitcanlar
Fahimeh Golbabaei
Nayomi Kankanamge
Adam Downie
Alexander Paz
From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Transport service
Transport communication
Public perception
Social media
Sentiment analysis
Queensland
title From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland
title_full From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland
title_fullStr From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland
title_full_unstemmed From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland
title_short From social media to policy: Public insights on transport communication and services in Queensland
title_sort from social media to policy public insights on transport communication and services in queensland
topic Transport service
Transport communication
Public perception
Social media
Sentiment analysis
Queensland
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019822500003X
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