Commute Survey

A surveyor went from kindly asking passengers to publicly shaming, in what could only be described as quasi-hippy parlance, hesitant passengers cornered in a train car. The dude did not abide. However, his methods were visibly effective in overcoming sample bias.

A large portion of Caltrain’s, the local commute rail service, customers are buying access to the service as opposed to individual rides. The transaction costs of subscribing and unsubscribing, along with subsidized purchases from employers, make for weaker price signals. A survey can help improve feedback loops and improve commuter retention.