Understanding information needs for seamless intermodal transportation: Evidence from Germany

Cities worldwide are seeking to enhance their sustainable mobility by reducing individual motorized transportation. While intermodal mobility – combining multiple transportation modes in one journey – is a key solution, individuals encounter challenges initiating intermodal journeys owing to the proliferation of mobility services. Providing accurate information at the right time is crucial amidst this complexity. While research has examined information needs for each mobility mode independently, the relationships between modes, phases, and information needs have barely been empirically investigated. Through a sequential mixed-method approach involving a literature review and a survey of >500 participants, this study identifies and validates the concept of phase- and mode chain-sensitive information needs. The findings provide initial insights, emphasizing phase relationships, mode chain relationships, and the interplays between phases and mode chains — a holistic understanding. This research can guide the design of more effective traveler information systems, aiding the shift toward sustainable urban mobility.