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Accessibility measurements in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Recife, Brazil

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  • Boisjoly, Geneviève
  • Serra, Bernardo
  • Oliveira, Gabriel T.
  • El-Geneidy, Ahmed

Abstract

Increasing attention is given to public transport services in cities of the Global South as a tool to enhance social inclusion and support economic development. Against this background, developing and evaluating indicators that quantify the distribution of public transport services from a social equity perspective is essential. The aim of the study is, therefore, to assess the equity of public transport services in four metropolitan regions in Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Recife) with two commonly used indicators of public transport provision. The first indicator measures proximity to rapid transit infrastructure (bus rapid transit, light rail and heavy rail stops with high frequency throughout the day), and the second measures accessibility to jobs by public transport. While simple indicators of proximity to public transport stops are most commonly used given their ease of operationalization and communication, accessibility to job indicators are more representative of the benefits provided to individuals by the public transport network. Combining these two indicators in one study provides a quantitative assessment of the socio-spatial distribution of public transport services in four large metropolitan areas in Brazil and the results demonstrate that lower-income households are disadvantaged in terms of public transport services in all four metropolitan areas. Furthermore, the results highlight the importance of quantifying accessibility by public transport, in addition to proximity to rapid transit, and thereby sheds light on the importance of developing openly available public transport schedules and geographic data. This study is of relevance to planners and researchers wishing to measure and evaluate public transport equity in the Global South.

Suggested Citation

  • Boisjoly, Geneviève & Serra, Bernardo & Oliveira, Gabriel T. & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2020. "Accessibility measurements in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Recife, Brazil," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:82:y:2020:i:c:s0966692318304332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.102551
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    7. Wang, Yanxia & Li, Yisong & Huang, Yixiao & Gong, Daqing, 2023. "Analyzing the impacts of logistics suburbanization on logistics service accessibility: Accessibility modeling approach for urban freight," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 25-44.
    8. Luz, Gregorio & Barboza, Matheus Henrique Cunha & da Silva Portugal, Licinio & Giannotti, Mariana & van Wee, Bert, 2022. "Does better accessibility help to reduce social exclusion? Evidence from the City of São Paulo, Brazil," SocArXiv 2p896, Center for Open Science.
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    11. Barboza, Matheus H.C. & Carneiro, Mariana S. & Falavigna, Claudio & Luz, Gregório & Orrico, Romulo, 2021. "Balancing time: Using a new accessibility measure in Rio de Janeiro," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
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