siirtotarpeet

Siirtotarpeet is a concept used in public transport planning and operations to describe the need for passengers to transfer between vehicles or services during a journey. The term highlights how network design and timetable alignment influence travel experience. High siirtotarpeet indicate that many trips require a change of vehicle, often due to insufficient direct connections, limited service frequency, or poorly synchronized timetables. Conversely, low siirtotarpeet reflect more direct routes and integrated services.

Measurement and indicators commonly include the transfer rate (the share of trips requiring at least one transfer), the average number of transfers per journey, the average transfer time, and the proportion of journeys completed with a single ride. Data sources for these indicators include ticketing systems and travel-time surveys.

Implications of siirtotarpeet relate to travel time reliability, convenience, and overall demand for public transport. Reducing siirtotarpeet can improve customer satisfaction and modal share, but may require changes that increase operating costs or alter the network design. Strategies to reduce siirtotarpeet include increasing service frequency, creating more direct routes for common origin-destination pairs, synchronizing timetables at interchange nodes, improving wayfinding and real-time information, and implementing integrated ticketing and routing.

Context: The term is used in Finnish public transport planning literature and practice, where authorities aim to minimize unnecessary transfers while maintaining network coverage. It is related to concepts such as interchange efficiency, transfer penalties, and network design.