IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jotrge/v112y2023ics0966692323001576.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The inequality effects of public transport fare: The case of Lisbon's fare reform

Author

Listed:
  • Silver, Kelli
  • Lopes, André
  • Vale, David
  • da Costa, Nuno Marques

Abstract

Spatial segregation of social groups within cities and inadequate transport conditions are frequently pointed to as major barriers to improving urban livelihood conditions for disadvantaged groups. For that reason, accessibility measures have increasingly been used as a tool to measure inequality. However, traditional accessibility measures fail to capture both travel costs and individual characteristics, which are central to equity. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss the importance of incorporating fare cost, fare affordability, and individual socio-economic characteristics of transport users into accessibility equity measurements. Given the April 2019 fare policy change introduced in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), this study examines how the fare restructuring, the integration of all public transport (PT) modes into a single pass with a maximum cost of 40€ per month, affects inequality levels. Using survey data collected in June and July 2020, we compare the self-reported trip modes and travel costs under Lisbon's previous and current public transport fare systems. We first define 4 benefits associated with the reform and calculate them for all survey respondents. We then used statistical analysis to determine which sociodemographic and locational groups benefited the most from the reform. Finally, using a pseudo-Palma ratio, we compare accessibility inequality levels for income and spatial subgroups before and after the fare price change.

Suggested Citation

  • Silver, Kelli & Lopes, André & Vale, David & da Costa, Nuno Marques, 2023. "The inequality effects of public transport fare: The case of Lisbon's fare reform," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:112:y:2023:i:c:s0966692323001576
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103685
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692323001576
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103685?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vredin Johansson, Maria & Heldt, Tobias & Johansson, Per, 2006. "The effects of attitudes and personality traits on mode choice," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 507-525, July.
    2. Guzman, Luis A. & Oviedo, Daniel & Rivera, Carlos, 2017. "Assessing equity in transport accessibility to work and study: The Bogotá region," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 236-246.
    3. Hine, Julian & Grieco, Margaret, 2003. "Scatters and clusters in time and space: implications for delivering integrated and inclusive transport," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 299-306, October.
    4. Venter, Christoffel, 2016. "Assessing the potential of bus rapid transit-led network restructuring for enhancing affordable access to employment – The case of Johannesburg's Corridors of Freedom," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 441-449.
    5. Daniel Oviedo & Lynn Scholl & Marco Innao & Lauramaria Pedraza, 2019. "Do Bus Rapid Transit Systems Improve Accessibility to Job Opportunities for the Poor? The Case of Lima, Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Stanley, Janet & Lucas, Karen, 2008. "Social exclusion: What can public transport offer?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 36-40, January.
    7. El-Geneidy, Ahmed & Levinson, David & Diab, Ehab & Boisjoly, Genevieve & Verbich, David & Loong, Charis, 2016. "The cost of equity: Assessing transit accessibility and social disparity using total travel cost," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 302-316.
    8. Lucas, Karen, 2011. "Making the connections between transport disadvantage and the social exclusion of low income populations in the Tshwane Region of South Africa," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1320-1334.
    9. Ricciardi, Anthony Michael & Xia, Jianhong(Cecilia) & Currie, Graham, 2015. "Exploring public transport equity between separate disadvantaged cohorts: a case study in Perth, Australia," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 111-122.
    10. Herszenhut, Daniel & Pereira, Rafael H.M. & Portugal, Licinio da Silva & Oliveira, Matheus Henrique de Sousa, 2022. "The impact of transit monetary costs on transport inequality," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    11. Bocarejo S., Juan Pablo & Oviedo H., Daniel Ricardo, 2012. "Transport accessibility and social inequities: a tool for identification of mobility needs and evaluation of transport investments," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 142-154.
    12. Lucas, Karen, 2012. "Transport and social exclusion: Where are we now?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 105-113.
    13. Jara-Díaz, Sergio R. & Videla, Jorge, 1989. "Detection of income effect in mode choice: Theory and application," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 393-400, December.
    14. Church, A. & Frost, M. & Sullivan, K., 2000. "Transport and social exclusion in London," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 195-205, July.
    15. Bocarejo, Juan Pablo & Portilla, Ingrid Joanna & Velásquez, Juan Miguel & Cruz, Mónica Natalia & Peña, Andrés & Oviedo, Daniel Ricardo, 2014. "An innovative transit system and its impact on low income users: the case of the Metrocable in Medellín," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 49-61.
    16. Gkritza, Konstantina & Karlaftis, Matthew G. & Mannering, Fred L., 2011. "Estimating multimodal transit ridership with a varying fare structure," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 148-160, February.
    17. Martens, Karel & Golub, Aaron & Robinson, Glenn, 2012. "A justice-theoretic approach to the distribution of transportation benefits: Implications for transportation planning practice in the United States," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 684-695.
    18. Dong Liu & Mei‐Po Kwan, 2020. "Measuring Job Accessibility Through Integrating Travel Time, Transit Fare And Income: A Study Of The Chicago Metropolitan Area," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 111(4), pages 671-685, September.
    19. Benjamin Büttner & Julia Kinigadner & Chenyi Ji & Benjamin Wright & Gebhard Wulfhorst, 2018. "The TUM Accessibility Atlas: Visualizing Spatial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Accessibility to Support Regional Land-Use and Transport Planning," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 385-414, June.
    20. Tainá A Bittencourt & Mariana Giannotti & Eduardo Marques, 2021. "Cumulative (and self-reinforcing) spatial inequalities: Interactions between accessibility and segregation in four Brazilian metropolises," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 48(7), pages 1989-2005, September.
    21. Delbosc, Alexa & Currie, Graham, 2012. "Modelling the causes and impacts of personal safety perceptions on public transport ridership," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 302-309.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Herszenhut, Daniel & Pereira, Rafael H.M. & Portugal, Licinio da Silva & Oliveira, Matheus Henrique de Sousa, 2022. "The impact of transit monetary costs on transport inequality," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Bueno Rezendede Castro, André & Ortega Sandoval, Abby Daniela & Odamtten, Genevieve, 2022. "Up around the bend? How transport poverty can lead to social exclusion in a low-income community in Lagos, Nigeria," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    3. Deng, Haopeng & Li, Ye & Li, Wenxiang & Yu, Yuewu, 2016. "Urban transport social needs in China: Quantification with central government transit grant," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 126-139.
    4. Rui Xiao & Guofeng Wang & Meng Wang, 2018. "Transportation Disadvantage and Neighborhood Sociodemographics: A Composite Indicator Approach to Examining Social Inequalities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 29-43, May.
    5. Gabriella Vitorino Guimarães & Tálita Floriano Santos & Vicente Aprigliano Fernandes & Jorge Eliécer Córdoba Maquilón & Marcelino Aurélio Vieira da Silva, 2020. "Assessment for the Social Sustainability and Equity under the Perspective of Accessibility to Jobs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-23, December.
    6. Costa, Cayo & Ha, Jaehyun & Lee, Sugie, 2021. "Spatial disparity of income-weighted accessibility in Brazilian Cities: Application of a Google Maps API," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    7. Jun Yang & Andong Guo & Xueming Li & Tai Huang, 2018. "Study of the Impact of a High-Speed Railway Opening on China’s Accessibility Pattern and Spatial Equality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Ben-Elia, Eran & Benenson, Itzhak, 2019. "A spatially-explicit method for analyzing the equity of transit commuters' accessibility," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 31-42.
    9. Daniel Oviedo & Lynn Scholl & Marco Innao & Lauramaria Pedraza, 2019. "Do Bus Rapid Transit Systems Improve Accessibility to Job Opportunities for the Poor? The Case of Lima, Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-24, May.
    10. Duvarci, Yavuz & Yigitcanlar, Tan & Mizokami, Shoshi, 2015. "Transportation disadvantage impedance indexing: A methodological approach to reduce policy shortcomings," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 61-75.
    11. Nazari Adli, Saeid & Donovan, Stuart, 2018. "Right to the city: Applying justice tests to public transport investments," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 56-65.
    12. Xia, Jianhong(Cecilia) & Nesbitt, Joshua & Daley, Rebekah & Najnin, Arfanara & Litman, Todd & Tiwari, Surya Prasad, 2016. "A multi-dimensional view of transport-related social exclusion: A comparative study of Greater Perth and Sydney," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 205-221.
    13. Xiaoshu Cao & Huiling Chen & Feiwen Liang & Wulin Wang, 2018. "Measurement and Spatial Differentiation Characteristics of Transit Equity: A Case Study of Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    14. Yu, Lijie & Cui, Mengying, 2023. "How subway network affects transit accessibility and equity: A case study of Xi'an metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    15. Li, Wu & Guan, Haotian & Qin, Wenwen & Ji, Xiaofeng, 2023. "Collective and individual spatial equity measure in public transit accessibility based on generalized travel cost," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    16. Pyrialakou, V. Dimitra & Gkritza, Konstantina & Fricker, Jon D., 2016. "Accessibility, mobility, and realized travel behavior: Assessing transport disadvantage from a policy perspective," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 252-269.
    17. Cascetta, Ennio & Cartenì, Armando & Henke, Ilaria & Pagliara, Francesca, 2020. "Economic growth, transport accessibility and regional equity impacts of high-speed railways in Italy: ten years ex post evaluation and future perspectives," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 412-428.
    18. Scholl, Lynn & Martínez, Daniel & Mitnik, Oscar A. & Oviedo, Daniel & Yáñez-Pagans, Patricia, 2018. "A Rapid Road to Employment?: The Impacts of a Bus Rapid Transit System in Lima," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 9452, Inter-American Development Bank.
    19. Plyushteva, Anna, 2023. "Affording mobility: Attending to the socio-material affordances of transport un/affordability," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    20. Md. Kamruzzaman & Tan Yigitcanlar & Jay Yang & Mohd Afzan Mohamed, 2016. "Measures of Transport-Related Social Exclusion: A Critical Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-30, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:112:y:2023:i:c:s0966692323001576. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-transport-geography .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.