An Assessment of Minibus User Satisfaction and Perceptions of Routes in Urban Transport in Trabzon City

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Yentimur M. F., Kütük T.

7. International Conference on Trends in Advanced Research, Konya, Turkey, 26 - 27 June 2026, pp.206-211, (Full Text)

• Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
• City: Konya
• Country: Turkey
• Page Numbers: pp.206-211
• Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study evaluates the patterns of minibus usage, user satisfaction and perceptions of routes within Trabzon’s urban transport system. In Trabzon, a city developing linearly along the Black Sea coast where topographical constraints have a significant impact on the transport network, the minibus is a flexible form of intermediate public transport widely used for short and medium-distance journeys. The study’s data was collected by administering a 21-question survey to 291 participants; the data was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings indicate that, despite high levels of private car use among participants, minibuses retain a significant share of urban transport and are notably preferred for journeys to work, school and for educational purposes. While the primary reasons for choosing minibuses are their affordability and accessibility, satisfaction levels regarding fares, frequency of services and route structure are low. In contrast, ease of access to stops is perceived relatively positively. The fact that minibus routes in Trabzon are largely concentrated around the Meydan area increases the need for transfers, particularly for east-west journeys, resulting in time and cost losses for users. Therefore, this study recommends that, to improve minibus service quality, routes should be reassessed, direct connections strengthened, service frequency adjusted according to demand, and a more integrated planning approach adopted between minibus and bus systems.