Accessibility Dilemma in Metro Stations: An Experimental Pilot Study Based on Passengers’ Emotional Experiences

Daniel Vega, Sebastian Seriani (), Álvaro Peña, Vinicius Minatogawa, Vicente Aprigliano, Bernardo Arredondo, Iván Bastías, Fernando Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Cristian Muñoz and Rodrigo Soto
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Daniel Vega: Facultad de Administración y Economía, Universidad Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170465, Chile
Sebastian Seriani: Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile
Álvaro Peña: Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile
Vinicius Minatogawa: Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile
Vicente Aprigliano: Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile
Bernardo Arredondo: Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile
Iván Bastías: Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile
Fernando Rodriguez-Rodriguez: IRyS Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2530388, Chile
Cristian Muñoz: Facultad de Administración y Economía, Universidad Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170465, Chile
Rodrigo Soto: Facultad de Administración y Economía, Universidad Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170465, Chile

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: This study explores the passengers’ accessibility dilemma in Valparaíso, Chile, through field observations and laboratory experiments. The aim is to investigate the accessibility in metro stations based on the users’ emotional experience. Perceptions were reported through the emotions of passengers according to a circumplex psychological model and an accessibility ranking. Passengers reported their emotions (e.g., stress, sadness, relaxation, and happiness) during different trip moments. Results indicate that rearranging train seats parallel to movement creates a more spacious aisle, enhancing mobility and evoking positive emotions such as happiness. However, an unexpected rise in sadness suggests that social dynamics may influence emotional responses, warranting further investigation. Overcrowding increases stress and sadness, emphasizing the need for capacity management to improve passengers’ emotional experiences. Field observations reveal that early journey stages, such as walking to the station or waiting on the platform, are associated with unpleasant experiences due to poor infrastructure and accessibility barriers. In contrast, train rides foster more positive emotions, credited to better accessibility onboard. Passenger dissatisfaction arises from issues such as elevator malfunctions, inconsistent train schedules, and inadequate station accessibility. This study could help to understand passenger behavior when the accessibility conditions of metro stations and their surroundings are changed. Further studies will expand the concept of emotions by considering social and psychological factors and explore different types of stations and their surroundings considering a larger sample size in laboratory experiments and field studies.

Keywords: accessibility; passenger; metro station; emotions; experience; Valparaiso; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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