TransLinked

It’s TransLinked, Episode 1! I venture out with the camera again, this time talking to dear friend Roland Tanglao about his experience with TransLink Listens, the TransLink online customer panel survey that has caused more than one blogger a little consternation.

The video is roughly 5 minutes and 30 seconds. I will certainly admit to there being a rough cut or two. All part of the fun.

Can’t watch video? Here are some highlights from our discussion:

• TransLink Listens is a little “web 1.0” in its interface. But Roland and I are fairly on the web-geeky side, so it’s not fatal, but more than a little annoying at times.
• More problematically, the survey often contains leading questions, and the panel functionality is not being utilized to its fullest. Roland is not pleased at being asked to answer the question about his household income every survey. He believes the panel software is capable of remembering this information so he can avoid putting it in every time.
• There’s also a slight sense of being patronized in the survey, with TransLink being in the position of interpreting, re-packaging and using the data collected without any real involvement in this step from the public. Many members of that transit-riding public are working towards more sustainable lifestyles as well, individually as well as in more collective ways, and find much of what is said by our neighbours about transit interesting.

I’ll post a more complete roundup of my thoughts on this another time. For now, enjoy the video!

Update: Shortly after we shot this interview (~less than 24 hours), TransLink is starting to address Roland’s concerns publicly in a comment on his Flickr set. The comment was posted prior to the interview. I’m excited for the conversation and learning ahead…as well as to sign up for the panel if it means I get to look at the library! ;)

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