“Transit systems are not just about moving people but about improving the quality of life.” – Enrique Peñalosa.
Cities are the hubs of societal activity, where people lead a fast-paced life, racing against time to keep up with the ever-changing face of the urban fabric. These urban areas are spread with a diverse population as they are the economic, cultural, and innovative centers that offer various opportunities for employment, learning, and entertainment. On the plus side, these spaces offer us enhanced infrastructure, transportation systems, and social and cultural facilities, but on the other hand, they are also characterized by congestion and high costs of living and are generally stressful.
In particular, the transit ways that link the population with opportunities are most critical and are part of our daily day-to-day activity. Train stations, airports, bus stops, and pedestrian ways are the primary means of transport and movement and the beat of the city. Of great significance is the quality as well as the design of transit spaces because this determines how often urban dwellers will be affected in their daily lives. Poorly designed and crowded spaces create tension for the users and in turn, affect their behavior. On the other hand, spaces that are designed well, with clear signs, enough seats, and a calming environment are a source of comfort and safety. Such environments significantly shape perceptions of urban life and overall well-being.
Environmental psychology
It is important to understand how the environment shapes human behavior so that spaces can be designed consciously to respond to user needs. The field of environmental psychology offers few tools and techniques that can be used to identify why users respond to the spaces the way they do. Environmental psychology studies the relationship between individuals and their physical surroundings by focusing on how design elements such as spatial layout, lighting, and wayfinding systems impact mood, decision-making, and user experience in public spaces.
Understanding how people behave in public transit station settings like subways, train stations, and airports requires an analysis of how individuals interact with their surroundings. Researchers in this field investigate how users respond to transit settings using techniques like surveys, observational studies, and simulations. Important components that affect user comfort, safety, and efficiency include lighting, accessibility, and spatial arrangement. Environmental psychology provides useful insights to assist in designing transportation environments that improve people’s experiences by addressing these factors.
Tools and techniques:
Environmental psychology draws on tools and techniques that work on a better understanding of human behavior in transit spaces. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the only foundational theory outlining the basic human requirements for well–being, ranges from addressing physiological needs to self-actualization needs. In the context of transit spaces, this hierarchy has been adapted by Peek and Van Hagen into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Transit Needs. Hence, the model suggests that transit users have layered needs from basic physical requirements such as safety and reliance, followed by higher-level needs like convenience, accessibility, and comfort. Meeting these needs at every level is essential to creating a positive experience.
The Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model is a key tool used to evaluate whether these needs are met. The SOR framework examines how environmental stimuli (such as lighting, spatial organization, and layout) impact the organism (the user’s emotions and perceptions), which in turn influences their behavioral response. Analyzing both their emotional reactions and behavioral patterns helps transit designers measure the effectiveness of the space in satisfying users’ needs.
An ideal example would be a well–lit, accessible transit station that evokes feelings of safety and comfort, leading to positive behaviors such as higher usage rates. Singapore’s Changi Airport is often celebrated for its thoughtful design. It features lush indoor gardens, art installations, and quiet zones, transforming a typically stressful transit space into a calming and enjoyable experience. This could tell on user comfort prioritization, anxiety, and fatigue reduction even during long layovers.
Conversely, stress resulting in avoidance behavior is often evoked by poorly maintained environments. New York City’s Penn Station exemplifies poorly maintained transit spaces which harm quality of life. The station often leaves commuters feeling stressed and frustrated which could be known for its overcrowding, insufficient seating, and dim lighting. The lack of efficient way-finding and aesthetic appeal further exacerbates the challenges, making daily commutes taxing for millions.
By applying the SOR model, researchers and designers can identify specific environmental factors that need improvement to enhance the user experience. This approach ensures that transit spaces are not only functional but also promote psychological well-being and satisfaction.
Designing transit spaces that cater to diverse sets of users – varying between different age groups, and economic and cultural backgrounds is a mission destined to test every limit. A functional and efficient public space that also prioritizes safety, accessibility, and comfort of the users is the need of the day. Due to visible differences in the demographic statuses of users, what feels secure to one group may be confusing and stressful to the other most often. As we get ready to adopt a user-centric design approach, these critical questions persist.
- How can the gap between user needs and design realities be bridged?
- How can we design transit environments to enhance users’ quality of life regardless of their backgrounds?
Answering these questions is crucial for designing transit spaces that work for their communities.
Citations for Websites:
- Rosenbloom, S. (2019). My 27-Hour Vacation in Singapore’s Changi Airport. The New York Times. [online] 2 Dec. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/travel/Singapore-Changi-Airport.html.[Accessed 20.12.2024]
- McLeod, S. (2024). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. [online] Simply Psychology. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html. [Accessed 16.12.2024]
- RPA. (2025). Expanding Capacity and Improving Penn Station. [online] Available at: https://rpa.org/news/lab/expanding-improving-penn [Accessed 17.01. 2025].
- PhD Assistance (2021). Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) Model. [online] PhD Assistance. Available at: https://www.phdassistance.com/blog/stimulus-organism-response-sor-model/.[Accessed 17.01. 2025].
Citations for Journal:
- Gromule, V., Jackiva), I.Y. and Pēpulis, J. (2017). Safety and Security of Passenger Terminal: the Case Study of Riga International Coach Terminal. Procedia Engineering, 178, pp.147–154. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.080. [Accessed 17.12.2024]
- Kim, J. and Heo, W. (2021). Importance of Interior Design: An Environmental Mediator for Perceiving Life Satisfaction and Financial Stress. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19), p.10195. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910195.[Accessed 17.12.2024]
