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Crime, environments, service characteristics, and transit ridership: a multilevel analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Jianling Li

    (University of Texas at Arlington)

  • Qian He

    (Planning, and Sustainability | Rowan University)

  • Qisheng Pan

    (University of Texas at Arlington)

Abstract

Although crime is well recognized as a factor detrimental to ridership, fewer empirical studies have tested the effect of crime on ridership and results are inconclusive. Moreover, existing studies seldom perform multilevel analysis despite using data with a hierarchical structure. This research addresses these gaps using the 2018 data of the five largest cities in the Texas Triangle and multilevel negative binomial regression. The results reveal a non-linear relationship between crime and ridership after controlling for other effects. Transit service characteristics and crime are the top predictors of ridership. The effect of transit trip rate on ridership varies contingent upon crime. The findings have significant implications for research on transit ridership and the improvement of transit services.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianling Li & Qian He & Qisheng Pan, 2025. "Crime, environments, service characteristics, and transit ridership: a multilevel analysis," Transportation, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1375-1398, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:52:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s11116-023-10459-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-023-10459-0
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