Distribution justice and regional equity of urban public transport Services: Evidence from China

Abstract

This study gathered empirical evidence of the spatial distribution characteristics of urban public transport services and their impact on regional equity. We used the entropy weighting analysis method to calculate the urban public transport service index based on multi-source geographic and transportation services data in China. QAP (Quadratic Assignment Procedure) regression was used to explore the factors affecting differences in traffic service. Our results showed a significant gap among regions. Prefecture-level cities with highly-developed economies, large geographical areas, or special status (such as province capitals) had high transportation service levels. Transportation services inequity was caused by the economic base of different local governments, resulting in differences in their financial support for public services. We also found that the disparity in transportation services narrowed over time, indicating that transportation service investment has long-term effects. The study's findings show the impact of urban development on transport service equity in developing countries.