This paper attempts to provide a broad view of the needs of those who use ride quality technology, and proposes a possible course of action to fulfill those needs. The user needs were assessed by both personal interviews and questionnaires. The study results indicate the need for a common basis of terminology for meaningful discussion of ride quality. The different types of criteria in use are discussed, and the need for improvements in the ride quality data base are presented. A recently developed method, generally applicable to all modes of transportation, was identified for quantifying passenger satisfaction and determining value decisions for existing and conceptual vehicles. Action is proposed which calls for the establishment of an organization with national responsibility to coordinate, evaluate, and analyze a total effort to quantify passenger satisfaction and value transfer functions for the 4 transportation modes.