Commuting mode share and workplace-based public transport services: An equity perspective

Abstract

Forced car ownership, defined as owning a car despite having limited economic resources, is an increasingly prevalent issue that places low-income households under significant economic stress. This is largely due to the car-oriented development that has prevailed in the last decades in most metropolitan regions in North America and many other parts of the world. Knowing that the desire to access employment opportunities, combined with the lack of adequate transport alternatives, is a major factor contributing to the acquisition of a car among low-income households, this research investigates the use of cars to access employment locations from a social equity perspective. More specifically, this study seeks to understand the relationship between public transport services at the workplace and commuting mode share, by combining detailed workplace-based census data with public transport schedule data. The spatial dispersion of low-income employment across the territory is first assessed. A linear regression model is then conducted to examine the relationship between mode share and public transport services, while controlling for the socio-economic characteristics of the commuters working in these areas. Interactions terms are included to assess the differentiated impact of service frequency across income groups. The results show that employment locations with high shares of low-income (LI) workers are spatially dispersed across the territory and are not, as a general trend, favoured in terms of public transport provision. The results of the linear regression model demonstrate that, in addition to the proximity of a metro station, frequent bus services are strongly associated with a decrease of the modal share of car, especially in areas that concentrate larger shares of LI workers. This result, combined with the spatial dispersion of LI jobs, points towards the improvement of bus services as a key strategy to better serve LI jobs and thereby reduce car use and dependency among LI workers. More specifically, one potential avenue would be to explore the development of rapid bus corridors along commercial streets. Taken together, the results of the study shed light on the importance and possible equity benefits of transport policies aiming at developing frequent bus services to support lower use of cars among LI workers. By using census data aggregated at the work locations instead of at the place of residence, this study complements the research on travel behaviour and equity, which is typically based on the residential location of different socio-economic groups. The findings of this study are of relevance to researchers and policymakers wishing to explore potential levers to reduce car use among low-income households.