Can public transportation improve equity in high-level healthcare time accessibility?

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2025

Subject Area

place - asia, mode - bus, mode - car, mode - subway/metro, policy - equity, planning - methods

Keywords

Public transport, accessibility equity

Abstract

This paper establishes an analytical framework, based on the Gaussian three-step floating catchment area method incorporating the integration of demand-minus-supply and location entropy, to address two fundamental concerns regarding equity in public services from both geographic and demographic perspectives, respectively: spatial accessibility inequity and population-accessibility-gap. The methodology was applied in Dalian, China by evaluating regional variations in healthcare accessibility across three travel scenarios: driving, public transport (PT) without- and with-metro. The results show that while the spatial distribution patterns are similar, accessibility equity is greater with PT with metro, compared to PT without metro or driving. The “relative surplus” and “surplus” types of time accessibility are found in surrounding areas adjacent to the city center, rather than being concentrated in the downtown. This study also highlights that the benefits of promoting healthcare equity through public transport are more pronounced at the demographic level than at the geographic level.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part D Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

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