The Perception of Access in Sydney

Ensuring good access is a key element of land-use planning, allowing people to move around and access different services. This project focuses on the perception of access, as people base their transport mode choice on it. The context of lockdown due to COVID-19 also made it possible to question individuals about their habits. This study is based on an online survey of 197 people and 7 interviews. The results show that the population generally overestimated the attractiveness of the centre of Sydney compared to the entire agglomeration, as well as the access to work from home. They also overestimated the access to work offered by public transport compared to that offered by cycling. Overall, they overestimated travel times compared to Google Maps, especially for the trips made by car, and the trips made by pedestrians on short journeys. Estimates of public transport users are more scattered. Cycling generally has a positive image, but long distances and the danger of a fragmented cycling network deter many residents. During the COVID-19 lockdown, commuting times were missed more by public transport users and cyclists, then by electric bicycle users, pedestrians and finally motorists. The number of changes in public transport appears to have more impact on the appreciation of transport than the travel time. Finally, the sketches made by the respondents during the interviews show a difference between public transport users and others in the way they picture their usual journeys, especially in the elements used for orientation. The use of colour coding to describe the level of comfort on a bicycle trip during the interviews suggests that the main sources of discomfort came from the confrontation with road traffic. This method proved effective in obtaining a near-exhaustive description of the advantages and disadvantages of a journey. Carried out on a larger scale and also with other means of transport, it is a good way of obtaining an overview of the perception of the city and its travel possibilities by its inhabitants.