Assessment of Bus Transit Equity in Two Metropolitan Areas

摘要

The generalized cost of a transit user depends mostly on time and money spent per trip. On the other hand, time and distance determine most of the transit agency's cost to provide service. These are important factors to consider in determining the equity performance of service provided to users of different demographic groups. The purpose of this study is to determine significant statistical differences in resources spent by bus users in two metropolitan areas. The study measures inequality among different socioeconomic groups of users in terms of travel time and money consumed per mile in using the service. Inequality is then compared between two case studies. Transit subsidies represent a transfer of income from taxpayers to bus users. Past studies have found that benefits disproportionately accrue consumers of long distance trips-mostly higher-income, white, older, and male. Since transit policies seek to attract both, transit dependents and choice riders, the situation raises questions regarding these conflicting objectives. This study gives a closer look to transit equity by including, not only distance, but also travel time as a way to include quality of service in terms of speed.