Cognitive Representations of Public Transit Use and Drive: A Phenomenological Study

Background: Motor-vehicle crash is the leading cause of death at the age group of 20 to 30 years old in the US. Although mounting evidence reveals a significant association between public transit use and community health, little up-to-date research has assessed how young people make choices between different modes of transportation. Cognition determines behavior. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore people's cognitive representations of public transit use and drive, which may be key to understanding their behavior and to improving community health. Methods: Phenomenological research method was selected for this study. In-depth interviews were the primary sources of data collection. A purposive sample of 18 people aged from 20 to 30 years who had experienced both using public transit and driving motor-vehicle participated in this study. Methodological rigor was attained through the application of verification, validation and validity. Results: A total of 8 themes emerged, including independence and freedom, safety concern, economic concern, personification, social-networking, hygiene concern, preference for subway over bus, and seeing public transit as an inferior substitution. The results were integrated into an in-depth, exhaustive description of the phenomenon. Conclusions: Rather than use public transit, young people prefer to drive out of not only a sense of necessity but a general and strong affinity. Full mobility may significantly affect their perception and cognition of ego-identity and self-actualization. Thus, simply enhancing the development of infrastructure is not enough to achieve the goal of increasing public transit use. Implications for practice delivery and policy were discussed.