GO GEORGE passenger satisfaction measured through survey

The latest results of an annual passenger satisfaction survey conducted among users of the GO GEORGE bus service have confirmed that most passengers are highly satisfied with the GO GEORGE service and the opportunities it provides in terms of accessibility and mobility.

They appreciate the flexibility of the system and say it is safer and more secure and affordable than their means of transport before the implementation of the GO GEORGE service.

The survey done on behalf of GO GEORGE by research specialists in the socio-economic field aims to determine the overall socio-economic impact of GO GEORGE, including the macro-economic and transport economic impact.

According to Morné Lakay, Acting GO GEORGE Manager, the outcome of the survey is compared with previous results for benchmarking and to guide GO GEORGE regarding specific areas that need to be addressed. “In this way, we continuously work to improve overall user satisfaction and ensure a high-quality, reliable, affordable system that addresses the needs of all users – both existing and potential future users,” he said.

Most user satisfaction scores have improved significantly from the previous year, confirming the continued commitment from GO GEORGE to provide a public transport service of high quality, resulting in a positive passenger experience.

Safety on the bus scores almost 100%

99,63% of interviewees reported feeling safe and secure on-board the GO GEORGE buses.

Lakay says this “statement of trust” would have been celebrated under normal circumstances. “However, the incident earlier this year of the petrol bombing of a bus carrying passengers is casting a shadow over this positive result that was recorded at the end of last year. Still, the bus service is not vulnerable because of one isolated incident. Criminality is ultimately a social issue that needs to be addressed. Although GO GEORGE does not have control over criminal actions from outside, we want to provide a safe travel experience for our passengers as far as possible and will continuously reinforce resources and efforts to do so,” he said.

Accessibility

With accessibility such a high priority for GO GEORGE, it was gratifying to learn that most passengers with disabilities and other special needs find GO GEORGE very accessible, both at bus stops and on board the buses, addressing their travel requirements. It was interesting to note that 35% of interviewees indicated that they have special needs when travelling. This includes people who are disabled, elderly, pregnant, travelling with small children or who experience some form of mobility challenge.

Affordability

By using GO GEORGE, 92% of passengers interviewed have noted that they pay less for transport than before. The fact that passengers do not pay again to transfer between buses within one hour from starting their journey, significantly contributes to reducing their monthly travel expenses.

“This kind of feedback is heart warming,” commented Lakay. “The prioritisation of public transport investment is no longer a nice to have; it is an absolute necessity. Government subsidises public transport – GO GEORGE trips included – so that nobody should have to turn away a job opportunity because they cannot afford to travel to work.”

CAPTION: Parents all over town welcome the safe travel option for their children to get to school and back home.


GO GEORGE-passasierstevredenheid gemeet deur opname

Die jongste resultate van ‘n jaarlikse passasierstevredenheidsopname wat onder gebruikers van die GO GEORGE-busdiens gedoen is, het bevestig dat die meeste passasiers hoogs tevrede is met die GO GEORGE-diens en die geleenthede wat dit bied ten opsigte van toeganklikheid en mobiliteit. Hulle waardeer die buigsaamheid van die stelsel en sê dit is veiliger en meer bekostigbaar as hul vervoer voor die implementering van die GO GEORGE-diens.

Die opname wat namens GO GEORGE deur navorsingspesialiste op sosio-ekonomiese gebied gedoen is, het ten doel om die algehele sosio-ekonomiese impak van GO GEORGE te bepaal, insluitend makro-ekonomiese en vervoer-ekonomiese impak.

Volgens Morné Lakay, waarnemende GO GEORGE-bestuurder, word die uitkoms van die opname vergelyk met vorige resultate as maatstaf en om GO GEORGE te lei ten opsigte van spesifieke areas wat aangespreek moet word. “Sodoende werk ons voortdurend daaraan om algehele gebruikerstevredenheid te verbeter en ‘n betroubare, bekostigbare stelsel van hoë gehalte te verseker wat die behoeftes van alle gebruikers aanspreek – bestaande sowel as potensiële toekomstige gebruikers,” het hy gesê.

Die meeste tellings het aansienlik verbeter teenoor die vorige jaar, wat die voortgesette verbintenis van GO GEORGE bevestig om ‘n openbare vervoerdiens van hoë gehalte te lewer, wat ‘n positiewe passasierservaring tot gevolg gehad het.

Veiligheid op die bus behaal byna 100%

99,63% van mense wat ondervra is, het aangedui dat hulle veilig voel op die GO GEORGE-busse.

Lakay sê dié “vertrouensverklaring” sou onder normale omstandighede gevier word. “Die voorval vroeër vanjaar van die petrolbomaanval op ‘n bus wat passasiers vervoer, werp egter ‘n skaduwee oor hierdie positiewe uitslag wat einde verlede jaar aangeteken is. Tog is die busdiens nie kwesbaar as gevolg van een geïsoleerde voorval nie. Kriminaliteit is uiteindelik ‘n sosiale kwessie wat aangespreek moet word en hoewel GO GEORGE nie beheer oor kriminele optrede van buite het nie, wil ons so ver moontlik ‘n veilige reiservaring vir ons passasiers bied en sal ons voortdurend hulpbronne en pogings om dit te doen, versterk,” het hy gesê.

Toeganklikheid

Met toeganklikheid ‘n hoë prioriteit vir GO GEORGE, was dit verblydend om te verneem dat die meeste passasiers met gestremdhede en ander spesiale behoeftes GO GEORGE baie toeganklik vind, by bushaltes én op die busse, wat aan hul reisbehoeftes voldoen. Dit was interessant om te sien dat 35% van die deelnemers aangedui het dat hulle spesiale behoeftes het wanneer hulle reis. Dit sluit in mense wat gestremd, bejaard of swanger is, met klein kinders reis, of wat ’n probleem met beweeglikheid het.

Bekostigbaarheid

Deur GO GEORGE te gebruik, het 92% van die passasiers met wie onderhoude gevoer is, opgemerk dat hulle minder betaal vir vervoer as voorheen.  Die feit dat passasiers nie binne een uur vanaf die aanvang van hul rit weer betaal om tussen busse oor te klim nie, dra aansienlik by tot die vermindering van hul maandelikse vervoerkoste.

“Hierdie soort terugvoer maak ons harte warm,” het Lakay gesê. “Die prioritisering van belegging in openbare vervoer is nie meer net gaaf nie; dit is ‘n absolute noodsaaklikheid. Die regering subsidieer openbare vervoer – GO GEORGE-ritte ingesluit – sodat niemand ‘n werksgeleentheid hoef weg te wys omdat hulle nie kan bekostig om werk toe te ry nie.”

ONDERSKRIF: Ouers regoor die dorp verwelkom die veilige vervoeropsie vir hul kinders om by die skool en weer terug by die huis te kom.

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