The present study examines the hypothesis that car users’ affective forecasts of satisfaction
with public transport are biased by a focusing illusion. In Study 1, 54 car users with a stated
intent to change travel mode read descriptions of a positive, a negative or a neutral critical
incident. They were asked to predict their satisfaction with public transport if the incident
occurred. In Study 2, 38 car users with no stated intent to change travel mode read descriptions
of a positive or a negative critical incident. They were asked to predict their satisfaction
with the service if the incident occurred. The results from Studies 1 and 2 showed that
focus on a negative critical incident significantly generated lower predicted satisfaction.
Thus, the study show that predicted satisfaction is altered when car users focus on negative
critical incidents