30 years of the transformation of non-urban public transport in Poland\u2019s peripheral areas \u2014 what went wrong?

Ariel Ciechański

doi:10.1007/s11629-021-6762-y

Abstract

Transport-based social exclusion is currently a serious social problem in Poland, and one which is apparently most severe at the level of the county (Polish powiat) in the south-east of the country, including the Beskid Niski and Bieszczady Mountains. A deeper illustration of this problem requires both observation of changes in the suburban public-transport network and the identification of areas in which this has deteriorated significantly in quantity and quality. The chosen starting point for the research was therefore 1990, as a year in which — on the one hand — the Polish economy was already shifted to the new free-market principles; while — on the other — state PKS (Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Samochodowej) non-urban bus transport enterprises still dominated public transport. The endpoint of the study is then the beginning of 2019 (the author’s research year). The article introduced here seeks to identify and present cartographically the changes affecting the public-transport network in the study area over the last 30 years, as well as to point to possible consequences of these processes. The background of the described changes is also discussed, as are the observed consequences of what is taking place.

Highlights

Knowles (1993) noted that the major researchReceived: 28-Feb-2021 Revised: 27-Jul-2021 Accepted: 24-Sep-2021 challenges of transport geography in the 1990s would include the problem of the growing gap between the mobility of the poor and the rich; as well as inequalities in the meeting of transport needs
This reflects a shift on the labour market, where it is possible to observe reduced numbers of jobs and services in rural areas, with positions and services moving to suburban locations with access to roads
Church et al (2000) proposed the more precisely-defined forms of transport-based social exclusion which we address in our study

Summary

Introduction

Received: 28-Feb-2021 Revised: 27-Jul-2021 Accepted: 24-Sep-2021 challenges of transport geography in the 1990s would include the problem of the growing gap between the mobility of the poor (or other disadvantaged groups) and the rich; as well as inequalities in the meeting of transport needs Among other things, this reflects a shift on the labour market, where it is possible to observe reduced numbers of jobs and services in rural areas, with positions and services moving to suburban locations with access to roads. Lucas (2019) confirms that transport-based social exclusion has remained an important and up-to-the-minute research problem She notes how – for more than 15 years – this has been among key issues tackled in the Journal of Transport Geography, with scientific achievements in this area seen to be expanding constantly. The nature of transport systems may cause physical and/or psychological difficulties which stop potential users (via physical exclusion), while the time needed for care, work, self-fulfilment and other commitments may limit travel possibilities and/or limit people to travelling freely in those moments when fewer transport services are available (via time exclusion)

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Conclusion