EXPLORING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN MADRID

Abstract

Public transportation is essential for urban quality of life, especially in densely populated cities like Madrid, where university students are frequent users. This study analyzes their perceptions of Madrid’s public transport, focusing on price, service quality, comfort, safety, accessibility, and environmental impact. Data were collected from 250 university students in Madrid during September and October 2024 and analyzed using IBM SPSS 27 with descriptive statistics. Results show that price value and flexibility significantly influence satisfaction. Service quality—particularly punctuality and cleanliness—is key to user loyalty. Comfort and safety factors affect students’ trust in public transport, while proximity and network integration encourage use. Environmental impact also drives preference over private vehicles. The findings support improvements in pricing, service quality, safety, and ecofriendly initiatives to promote continued use among students.