Comparing the efficiency of urban bus systems in Brazil, France, Spain and United States using social, financial, and environmental indicators

Analyzing efficiency is vital for public transport, given its significant resource consumption and operation in contexts with limited competition. Although the literature has been studying the efficiency of transport systems for a while, the number of studies that compare public transport internationally still needs to be improved. Research indicates that varying political and economic capacities across countries pose considerable challenges to transitioning towards more sustainable mobility. This issue is further exacerbated by the prominent role of subnational governments in public transport governance, as they dispose of fewer resources than their national counterparts. This study introduces an international methodology for evaluating the efficiency of urban bus systems in 50 cities across Brazil, France, Spain, and the USA. The systems were further categorized by population size. The methodology utilizes crew, energy consumption, fleet, CO2 emissions, and urban population as inputs, while fare revenues, catchment area, and ridership serve as outputs. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to the sample across various scenarios. European systems demonstrated the highest efficiencies. Large European and non-large Brazilian systems were the most resilient though different regions displayed sensitivity to distinct metrics. The proposed methodology offers a comprehensive framework for assessing urban bus network efficiency internationally.