Investigating travel-based multitasking on the Budapest metro

This study examines travel-based multitasking on the metro system of Budapest, Hungary, by analysing passenger activities across different time periods and crowding conditions through on-site observations. Data from surveys conducted in 2019 and 2023 using consistent methodologies were compared to identify changes in multitasking behaviour. The analysis revealed that key characteristics associated with age and gender remained stable. However, significant differences emerged between the two periods in terms of digital communication, which increased by approximately 8 percentage points by 2023, reflecting the broader trend of growing mobile device use. This transition was particularly evident among passengers in the middle age group, highlighting the expanding influence of digital technologies on travel behaviour. The findings offer insights into the evolving dynamics of multitasking in urban public transport settings.