Study on Thermal Adaptation Behaviors of Bus Passengers

Tao Zou¹Xiaofang Yang¹Yixuan Liu¹Yuhui Wang^1*Fangyuan Zheng¹Yifan Zhao¹Yanlin Bao²

• ¹Department of Environmental Art Design, School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, China
• ²University College London The Bartlett School of Architecture, London, United Kingdom

Thermal comfort inside buses has always been a key consideration for passengers when traveling. Although numerous studies and policies have explored and guided air conditioning standards for buses, research on passengers' thermal adaptation behaviors remains scarce—particularly in the context of widespread dissatisfaction with the thermal environment on buses. In this study, we adopted a mixed-methods approach and developed a new integrated research model to investigate passengers' thermal adaptation behaviors and their influencing factors. By constructing a theoretical framework for bus passengers' thermal adaptation behaviors, this study provides theoretical support for enhancing thermal comfort evaluation and deepening the understanding of the mechanisms underlying passengers' thermal adaptation behaviors. The results identified perceived behavioral control and thermal environment attitude as the most substantial positive predictors of adaptation intention. The findings provide practical insights for improving the thermal comfort design of buses, enhancing passengers' satisfaction during transit, and guiding manufacturers and service providers in optimizing bus production and services.