PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE AMONG STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA SERENA. LA SERENA-COQUIMBO CONURBATION

Abstract

Public transport in Chile has faced challenges such as congestion, high fares and accessibility problems in some areas. Despite efforts to improve it, major challenges
still persist in its optimization at the national level. In particular, the cities of La Serena and Coquimbo have experienced similar challenges in public transport service, with the lack of regulation generating disparities in the quality of service.

These problems have affected students at all levels, especially university students, generating additional difficulties in improving urban mobility. This lack of regulation can affect user satisfaction, becoming a crucial aspect to address in order to improve the quality of public transport in these cities. The objective of this research is to analyze the perception of public transport in students of the University of La Serena within the La Serena-Coquimbo conurbation.
To achieve the objectives of the research, a mixed approach with a predominance in the quantitative is used, adopting a Sequential Explanatory Design (DEXPLIS).

The selected techniques include a survey of students at the University of La Serena and semi-structured interviews with experts on the subject and influential agents on the subject.
Through the analysis carried out, it was concluded that the perception that students have about the public transport service is negative due to its failure to meet basic
standards. This dissatisfaction stems from problems such as lack of empathy, security and poor response capacity. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial to improve the mobility experience of students and, ultimately, their quality of life.