New Cities Foundation Unveils Results of Landmark Study on Commuting and Social Networks

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Cities Foundation unveiled the results of its Connected Commuting Task Force study, designed to help cities worldwide better understand how real-time social networking among commuters can enhance the overall commuting experience. The project, the first of its kind, was conducted in San Jose, California, in partnership with Ericsson, the City of San Jose's Department of Transportation, the University of California Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and two innovative commuter applications, Waze and Roadify.

The Task Force conducted an analysis of commuter sentiment from data retrieved from over 15,000 user commentaries. This was complemented with focus group interviews, comparing the experience of 'connected' and 'unconnected' commuters. The study presents an opportunity to identify alternative ways in which transport agencies and local governments could effectively improve the commute experience.

The Task Force revealed several key insights:

1. Connecting commuters improves the commute by allowing users to share or receive real-time information on traffic issues from an extended commuter community, offering commuters greater control of their commute and the opportunity to provide a valuable service to others.

1. The use of commuter sentiment analysis tools has the potential to help local transportation authorities define their priorities, planning, and investments by indicating routes that are particular points of frustration for commuters.

1. Connected car commuters tended to be happier than unconnected drivers as a result of being able to predict their commute conditions which resulted in less stress.

"Our vision for this study is to determine how real-time information sharing between commuters can influence the development of new technologies, policies and solutions that improve commuting in metropolitan areas everywhere. We hope that cities, research labs and companies will use the findings as a starting point for further innovations in this important field," said Naureen Kabir, Director of the Foundation's Urban Lab.

" In the Networked society, where everything that benefits from a connection will have one, these types of information sharing will help cities reduce commute times and commuters' energy consumption which benefits the environment, the cities and the citizens over the long term." says Patrik Cerwall, Head of Strategic Marketing and Intelligence, Business Unit Networks, Ericsson.

The full report is available at:

http://www.newcitiesfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Cities-Foundation-Connected-Commuting-Full-Report.pdf

NCF Media Contact:
Lucie-Anne Radimsky
media@newcitiesfoundation.org
+33-6-07-69-66-04