本文的目的在於引介旅途中調查，此種研究方法在西半球已廣爲交通旅遊界採持經年，而國內除了國際航空公司外，交通界卻鮮少使用。本文摘述Hurst所撰「旅途中調查」一文，對旅途中調查的應用範圍和理論略事涉獵，該作者對抽樣誤差、偏差與樣本數之間的關係著墨較多。最後筆者則建議公民營交通運輸單位在從事重大決策或重要交通建設前，宜慎重進行旅客調查，以獲知使用者真正之需求，俾能適時適地提供妥善之服務。

The article aims at introducing en route surveys, which have been adopted by the travel and transportation circles for decades in the U. S. The methods have assisted many states in providing U.S. passengers with efficient transportation systems. They, however, have been scarcely utilized by Taiwanese transportation entities except those employed by international airlines. The article first summarizes Hurst's (1993) "En Route Surveys" and points out some crucial strengths of the methods, then reflects on the inadequacy of reliable information available in Taiwan on passengers' travel needs. The data inadequacy had subsequently contributed to the failure in the operations of railway and highway transportation systems. Finally, the author indicates the necessity of conducting en route surveys by these entities so that passengers' travel needs can be sufficiently met.